Fundamental Studies of Tritium Diffusivity and Formation on the Surfaces of Defective LiAlO2 Pellets
- National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), Pittsburgh, PA, Morgantown, WV, and Albany, OR (United States)
One of the important components of tritium-producing burnable absorber rods (TPBAR) is the γLiAlO2 layer used in the form of an annular ceramic pellet enriched with the 6Li isotope. Within TPBAR architecture, this oxide is located between the zircaloy-4 liner and nickel-plated zircaloy-4 tritium getter. When irradiated in a pressurized water reactor (PWR), the 6Li pellets absorb neutrons, simulating the nuclear characteristics of a burnable absorber rod, and produce tritium (3H, T). The 3H specie chemically reacts with the metal getter, leading to the formation of a metal hydride. Accurate analysis of the 3H transport through the ceramic pellets and the barrier/cladding system is hampered by the lack of fundamental data about the hydrogen isotope solubility and diffusivity. In TPBAR architecture, between the γ-LiAlO2 pellet and the Ni-plated Zircaloy-4 getter (or liner), there is a gas gap. After 3H diffuses from bulk γ-LiAlO2 to its surface, it is possible that different 3H species (such as T, T2, T2O, and OT, etc.) are formed on this surface which can then get into the gas gap region. Furthermore, upon recombination and desorption molecular tritium can be formed on the γ-LiAlO2 surface. Therefore, exploring the formation of 3H-related species on γ-LiAlO2 surface becomes very important as an integral part of the study of 3H solubility and diffusivity in the pellets.
- Research Organization:
- National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), Pittsburgh, PA, Morgantown, WV, and Albany, OR (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Fossil Energy (FE)
- DOE Contract Number:
- FWP- WFO-2816053 Tritium Science - FY18
- OSTI ID:
- 1839414
- Report Number(s):
- DOE/NETL-PUB-22213; TRN: US2302677
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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