Flibe Use in Fusion Reactors - An Initial Safety Assessment

Technical Report · Thu Apr 01 00:00:00 EST 1999

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/911494· OSTI ID:911494

Cadwallader, Lee Charles; Longhurst, Glen Reed

This report is an initial effort to identify and evaluate safety issues associated with the use of Flibe (LiF-BeF2) as a molten salt coolant for nuclear fusion power plant applications. Flibe experience in the Molten Salt Reactor Experiment is briefly reviewed. Safety issues identified include chemical toxicity, radiological issues resulting from neutron activation, and the operational concerns of handling a high temperature coolant. Beryllium compounds and fluorine pose be toxicological concerns. Some controls to protect workers are discussed. Since Flibe has been handled safely in other applications, its hazards appear to be manageable. Some safety issues that require further study are pointed out. Flibe salt interaction with strong magnetic fields should be investigated. Evolution of Flibe constituents and activation products at high temperature (i.e., will Fluorine release as a gas or remain in the molten salt) is an issue. Aerosol and tritium release from a Flibe spill requires study, as does neutronics analysis to characterize radiological doses. Tritium migration from Flibe into the cooling system is also a safety concern. Investigation of these issues will help determine the extent to which Flibe shows promise as a fusion power plant coolant or plasma-facing material.

• Research Organization: Idaho National Laboratory (INL)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: AC07-99ID13727
• OSTI ID: 911494
• Report Number(s): INEEL/EXT-99-00331
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
AEROSOLS
beryllium
BERYLLIUM COMPOUNDS
chemical toxicity
COOLANTS
COOLING SYSTEMS
FLIBE
fluorine
fusion power plant
magnetic fields
molten salt coolant
MOLTEN SALTS
MSRE REACTOR
NEUTRONS
plasma-facing material
POWER PLANTS
SAFETY
safety issues
THERMONUCLEAR REACTORS
TOXICITY
TRITIUM