Technology Enabling Zero-EPZ Micro Modular Reactors: Fabrication of Zirconium Hydride with Controlled Hydrogen Loading

Technical Report · Sat Sep 12 04:00:00 EDT 2020

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/1879976· OSTI ID:1879976

Hu, Xunxiang ^[1]; Mouche, Peter ^[1]; Schappel, Danny ^[1]; Sprouster, David J. ^[2]

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1. Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
2. Brookhaven National Lab. (BNL), Upton, NY (United States); Stony Brook Univ., NY (United States)

This report completes Milestone M2.2.2 - ZrH pellet fabricated with controlled hydride loading: ZrH1.5±0.1 single phase pellets fabricated with controlled and thermally stable hydride loading. Hydrogen content to be quantified and single-phase confirmed by X-ray diffraction. In this milestone, we report the successful fabrication of delta-phase zirconium hydride pellets using the ORNL bulk metal hydriding system. The successful deployment of zirconium hydride moderator in advanced reactors requires development of a consistent and affordable production pathway along with implementation of a hydrogen retention solution throughout the reactor life. Fabrication of delta-phase zirconium hydride is challenging since the absorption of a large amount of hydrogen into alpha-zirconium induces significant volume expansion and the present hydrogen concentration gradient results in cracking. A fully programmable hydriding system with continuous hydrogen partial pressure and flow control to facilitate processing of massive metal hydride has been developed at ORNL. In this report, the working principle of the hydriding system will be introduced. Characterization of the produced zirconium hydride includes X-ray powder diffraction to identify the present phases and X-ray Computed Tomography to visualize the internal microstructure (including cracks). The results indicate that single delta-phase zirconium hydride pellets with various sizes have been successfully produced.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy (ARPA-E)
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-00OR22725; AR0000977
• OSTI ID: 1879976
• Report Number(s): ORNL/SPR-2020/1672
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE