Pacific Northwest Laboratory report on fusion energy research, April 1977 - June 1977
The development of economic data for fusion power plants continued in a study estimating the potential impact of a shortage of materials important in fusion plant construction. In studies developing heat transfer and fluid flow design tools for fusion reactor blankets, preconceptual design studies were initiated to identify the potential design limits of water cooling in the first wall of Tokamak Next Step (TNS) concepts. In surface effects research clean gold samples were irradiated in the University of California (D,Be) neutron source for a neutron sputtering experiment. Light ion and neutron irradiation experiments have continued in studies of the effects of radiation on mechanical properties. The hardening response of 14 MeV neutron-irradiated nickel changed at high particle fluences (10/sup 16/ to 10/sup 17/ particles/cm/sup 2/) while the hardening response of 16 MeV proton-irradiated nickel did not, which may have been due to a difference in irradiation hardening mechanisms. The flux dependence of the damage microstructure and irradiation hardening of materials needs further study to clarify uncertainty about light ion and fusion neutron damage processes. Neutron irradiations of Ni, 316SS, and Nb wires and foils were completed. Work has continued in studies developing acoustic emission (AE) techniques for determining the prebreakdown behavior and failure mechanisms in electric insulators with potential applications in fusion reactors. Scoping experiments with the high-vacuum dielectric breakdown apparatus were conducted.
- Research Organization:
- Battelle Pacific Northwest Labs., Richland, WA (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- DOE Contract Number:
- EY-76-C-06-1830
- OSTI ID:
- 5159848
- Report Number(s):
- BNWL-1939-8
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
COPPER
NEUTRON REACTIONS
RADIATION HARDENING
NICKEL
NIOBIUM
THERMONUCLEAR REACTOR MATERIALS
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
ALUMINIUM OXIDES
DEGASSING
ELECTRICAL INSULATION
PROTON REACTIONS
ALUMINIUM COMPOUNDS
BARYON REACTIONS
CHALCOGENIDES
CHARGED-PARTICLE REACTIONS
ELEMENTS
HADRON REACTIONS
HARDENING
METALS
NUCLEAR REACTIONS
NUCLEON REACTIONS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PHYSICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIATION EFFECTS
REFRACTORY METALS
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
700209* - Fusion Power Plant Technology- Component Development & Materials Testing
360106 - Metals & Alloys- Radiation Effects