Thermal convection loop experiments and analysis of mass-transport processes in lithium/Fe-12Cr-1MoVW systems

Thesis/Dissertation · Fri Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1988

OSTI ID:5146505

Bell, G E.C.

Lithium is an attractive coolant and breeder material for first-generation fusion-reactor blankets. The compatibility of lithium with structural alloys, in the form of mass transport and deposition, may impose restrictions on blanket operating parameters such as temperature and lithium purity. A ferritic steel, such as Fe-12Cr1MoVW, is a candidate for use as a structural alloy in a self-cooled lithium blanket design. Experimental data on mass transport in lithium/Fe-12Cr1MoVW were obtained from two thermal convection loops that spanned the fusion-relevant temperature range; one operated from 360 to 505{degree}C for 3040 hours and the other from 525 to 655{degree}C for 2510 hours. Analyses of mass transport and deposition, as measured by specimen weight change, were not simple functions of temperature for the entire temperature range investigated. The mass-transfer behavior and surface morphology at low temperatures were dominated by impurity reactions of nitrogen and carbon in the lithium with the steel. In the experiment between 360 and 505{degree}C nitrogen levels were sufficient below 450{degree}C to allow the formation of the adherent, protective corrosion product Li{sub 9}CrN{sub 5}.

• Research Organization: California Univ., Los Angeles, CA (USA)
• OSTI ID: 5146505
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360105 -- Metals & Alloys-- Corrosion & Erosion
70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
700201* -- Fusion Power Plant Technology-- Blanket Engineering
ALKALI METALS
ALLOYS
BREEDING BLANKETS
CHROMIUM ALLOYS
COMPATIBILITY
CORROSION PRODUCTS
ELEMENTS
FERRITIC STEELS
FERTILE MATERIALS
IRON ALLOYS
IRON BASE ALLOYS
LITHIUM
MASS TRANSFER
MATERIALS
METALS
MOLYBDENUM ALLOYS
REACTOR COMPONENTS
STEELS
THERMONUCLEAR REACTORS
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
TUNGSTEN
VANADIUM ADDITIONS
VANADIUM ALLOYS