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Mass transfer deposits in lithium-type 316 stainless steel thermal-convection loops

Conference ·
OSTI ID:5497018
In spatially nonisothermal flowing liquid metal systems, selected constitutents of the containment materials characteristically dissolve into the liquid metal in the hotter zones and are deposited in the colder areas. The accumulation of deposits is often a more serious problem than dissolution because of attendant flow restrictions and, in reactor applications, the aggregation of radioactive species in the coolant circuits. Accordingly, the deposition processes in lithium-type 316 stainless steel thermal convection loops is studied. The morphology and composition of deposits varied with loop operating time. Initially, chromium-rich dendritic crystals formed in the colder region of a loop, but later the deposits changed in structure and contained significant amounts of nickel and iron. Deposition rates were also measured as a function of time and temperature and were correlated with the above observations. A plug extracted from one loop consisted of an aggregate of chromium-rich crystals.
Research Organization:
Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
W-7405-ENG-26
OSTI ID:
5497018
Report Number(s):
CONF-800401-6
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English