Corrosion Testing in Support of the Accelerator Production of Tritium Program
The Accelerator Production of Tritium Project is part of the United States Department of Energy strategy to meet the nation's tritium needs. The project involves the design of a proton beam accelerator, which will produce tritium through neutron/proton interaction with helium-3. Design, construction and operation of this one-of-a-kind facility will involve the utilization of a wide variety of materials exposed to unique conditions, including elevated temperature and high-energy mixed-proton and -neutron spectra. A comprehensive materials test program was established by the APT project which includes the irradiation of structural materials by exposure to high-energy protons and neutrons at the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center at the Los Alamos National Laboratory. Real-time corrosion measurements were performed on specially designed corrosion probes in water irradiated by an 800 MeV proton beam. The water test system provided a means for measuring water chemistry, dissolved hydroge n concentration, and the effects of water radiolysis and water quality on corrosion rate. The corrosion probes were constructed of candidate APT materials alloy 718, 316L stainless steel, 304L stainless steel, and 6061 Aluminum (T6 heat treatment), and alternate materials 5052 aluminum alloy, alloy 625, and C276. Real-time corrosion rates during proton irradiation increased with proton beam current. Efforts are continuing to determine the effect of proton beam characteristics and mixed-particle flux on the corrosion rate of materials located directly in the proton beam. This paper focuses on the real-time corrosion measurements of materials located in the supply stream and return stream of the water flow line to evaluate effects of long-lived radiolysis products and water chemistry on the corrosion rates of materials. In general, the corrosion rates for the out-of-beam probes were low and were affected mainly by water conductivity. The data indicate a water conductivity threshold e xists to minimize corrosion in the out-of-beam areas, especially for aluminum. The in-beam probes also revealed a water conductivity threshold but at a lower value compared to the out-of-beam probes.
- Research Organization:
- Savannah River Site (SRS), Aiken, SC (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- US Department of Energy (US)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC09-96SR18500
- OSTI ID:
- 767284
- Report Number(s):
- WSRC-MS-2000-00781; TRN: US0005665
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: CORROSION/2001, Houston, TX (US), 03/11/2001--03/16/2001; Other Information: PBD: 7 Nov 2000
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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