skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Evaluations of University of Wisconsin Silicon Carbide Temperature Monitors 300 LO and 400 LO B

Abstract

Silicon carbide (SiC) temperature monitors 05R4-02-A KG1403 (300 LO) and 05R4-01-A KG1415 (400 LO B) were evaluated at the High Temperature Test Lab (HTTL) to determine their peak irradiation temperatures. HTTL measurements indicate that the peak irradiation temperature for the 300 LO monitor was 295 {+-} 20 C and the peak irradiation temperature for the 400 LO B monitor was 294 {+-} 25 C. Two silicon carbide (SiC) temperature monitors irradiated in the Advanced Test Reactor (ATR) were evaluated at the High Temperature Test Lab (HTTL) to determine their peak temperature during irradiation. These monitors were irradiated as part of the University of Wisconsin Pilot Project with a target dose of 3 dpa. Temperature monitors were fabricated from high density (3.203 g/cm3) SiC manufactured by Rohm Haas with a nominal size of 12.5 mm x 1.0 mm x 0.75 mm (see Attachment A). Table 1 provides identification for each monitor with an expected peak irradiation temperature range based on preliminary thermal analysis (see Attachment B). Post irradiation calculations are planned to reduce uncertainties in these calculated temperatures. Since the early 1960s, SiC has been used as a post-irradiation temperature monitor. As noted in Reference 2, several researchers have observed thatmore » neutron irradiation induced lattice expansion of SiC annealed out when the post-irradiation annealing temperature exceeds the peak irradiation temperature. As noted in Reference 3, INL uses resistivity measurements to infer peak irradiation temperature from SiC monitors. Figure 1 depicts the equipment at the HTTL used to evaluate the SiC monitors. The SiC monitors are heated in the annealing furnace using isochronal temperature steps that, depending on customer needs, can range from 50 to 800 C. This furnace is located under a ventilation hood within the stainless steel enclosure. The ventilation system is activated during heating so that any released vapors are vented through this system. Annealing temperatures are recorded using a National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) traceable thermocouple inserted into an alumina tube in the furnace. After each isochronal annealing, the specimens are placed in a specialized fixture located in the constant temperature chamber (maintained at 30 C) for a minimum of 30 minutes. After the 30 minute wait time, each specimen's resistance is measured using the specialized fixture and a calibrated DC power analyzer. This report discusses the evaluation of the SiC monitors and presents the results. Testing was conducted in accordance with Reference 3. Sections 2 and 3 present the data collected for each monitor and provide interpretation of the data. Section 4 presents the evaluated temperature results.« less

Authors:
; ; ; ;
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Idaho National Lab. (INL), Idaho Falls, ID (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
DOE - NE
OSTI Identifier:
1033907
Report Number(s):
INL/EXT-11-24226
TRN: US1200680
DOE Contract Number:  
DE-AC07-05ID14517
Resource Type:
Technical Report
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE; 22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS; ANNEALING; EVALUATION; FURNACES; HEATING; IRRADIATION; MONITORS; NEUTRONS; SILICON CARBIDES; STAINLESS STEELS; TARGETS; TEST REACTORS; TESTING; THERMAL ANALYSIS; THERMOCOUPLES; VENTILATION; VENTILATION SYSTEMS; Silicon Carbide, Temperature Monitor, Irradiation

Citation Formats

Davis, K L, Rempe, J L, Knudson, D L, Chase, B M, and Unruh, T C. Evaluations of University of Wisconsin Silicon Carbide Temperature Monitors 300 LO and 400 LO B. United States: N. p., 2011. Web. doi:10.2172/1033907.
Davis, K L, Rempe, J L, Knudson, D L, Chase, B M, & Unruh, T C. Evaluations of University of Wisconsin Silicon Carbide Temperature Monitors 300 LO and 400 LO B. United States. https://doi.org/10.2172/1033907
Davis, K L, Rempe, J L, Knudson, D L, Chase, B M, and Unruh, T C. 2011. "Evaluations of University of Wisconsin Silicon Carbide Temperature Monitors 300 LO and 400 LO B". United States. https://doi.org/10.2172/1033907. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1033907.
@article{osti_1033907,
title = {Evaluations of University of Wisconsin Silicon Carbide Temperature Monitors 300 LO and 400 LO B},
author = {Davis, K L and Rempe, J L and Knudson, D L and Chase, B M and Unruh, T C},
abstractNote = {Silicon carbide (SiC) temperature monitors 05R4-02-A KG1403 (300 LO) and 05R4-01-A KG1415 (400 LO B) were evaluated at the High Temperature Test Lab (HTTL) to determine their peak irradiation temperatures. HTTL measurements indicate that the peak irradiation temperature for the 300 LO monitor was 295 {+-} 20 C and the peak irradiation temperature for the 400 LO B monitor was 294 {+-} 25 C. Two silicon carbide (SiC) temperature monitors irradiated in the Advanced Test Reactor (ATR) were evaluated at the High Temperature Test Lab (HTTL) to determine their peak temperature during irradiation. These monitors were irradiated as part of the University of Wisconsin Pilot Project with a target dose of 3 dpa. Temperature monitors were fabricated from high density (3.203 g/cm3) SiC manufactured by Rohm Haas with a nominal size of 12.5 mm x 1.0 mm x 0.75 mm (see Attachment A). Table 1 provides identification for each monitor with an expected peak irradiation temperature range based on preliminary thermal analysis (see Attachment B). Post irradiation calculations are planned to reduce uncertainties in these calculated temperatures. Since the early 1960s, SiC has been used as a post-irradiation temperature monitor. As noted in Reference 2, several researchers have observed that neutron irradiation induced lattice expansion of SiC annealed out when the post-irradiation annealing temperature exceeds the peak irradiation temperature. As noted in Reference 3, INL uses resistivity measurements to infer peak irradiation temperature from SiC monitors. Figure 1 depicts the equipment at the HTTL used to evaluate the SiC monitors. The SiC monitors are heated in the annealing furnace using isochronal temperature steps that, depending on customer needs, can range from 50 to 800 C. This furnace is located under a ventilation hood within the stainless steel enclosure. The ventilation system is activated during heating so that any released vapors are vented through this system. Annealing temperatures are recorded using a National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) traceable thermocouple inserted into an alumina tube in the furnace. After each isochronal annealing, the specimens are placed in a specialized fixture located in the constant temperature chamber (maintained at 30 C) for a minimum of 30 minutes. After the 30 minute wait time, each specimen's resistance is measured using the specialized fixture and a calibrated DC power analyzer. This report discusses the evaluation of the SiC monitors and presents the results. Testing was conducted in accordance with Reference 3. Sections 2 and 3 present the data collected for each monitor and provide interpretation of the data. Section 4 presents the evaluated temperature results.},
doi = {10.2172/1033907},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1033907}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Thu Dec 01 00:00:00 EST 2011},
month = {Thu Dec 01 00:00:00 EST 2011}
}