Title: Neutronics and activation analysis of lithium-based ternary alloys in IFE blankets

Abstract

Here we report that an attractive feature of using liquid lithium as the breeder and coolant in fusion blankets is that it has very high tritium solubility and results in very low levels of tritium permeation throughout the facility infrastructure. However, lithium metal vigorously reacts with air and water and presents plant safety concerns. The Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory is carrying an effort to develop a lithium-based alloy that maintains the beneficial properties of lithium (e.g. high tritium breeding and solubility) and at the same time reduces overall flammability concerns. This study evaluates the neutronics performance of lithium-based alloys in the blanket of an inertial fusion energy chamber in order to inform such development. 3-D Monte Carlo calculations were performed to evaluate two main neutronics performance parameters for the blanket: tritium breeding ratio (TBR), and the fusion energy multiplication factor (EMF). It was found that elements that exhibit low absorption cross sections and higher q-values such as lead, tin, and strontium, perform well with those that have high neutron multiplication such as lead and bismuth. These elements meet TBR constrains ranging from 1.02 to 1.1. However, most alloys do not reach EMFs greater than 1.15. Additionally, it was found thatmore » enriching lithium significantly increases the TBR and decreases the minimum lithium concentration by more than 60%. The amount of enrichment depends on how much total lithium is in the alloy to begin with. Alloys that performed well in the TBR and EMF calculations were considered for activation analysis. Activation simulations were executed with 50 years of irradiation and 300 years of cooling. It was discovered that bismuth is a poor choice due to achieving the highest decay heat, contact dose rates, and accident doses. In addition, it does not meet the waste disposal ratings (WDR). Some of the activation results for alloys with tin, zinc, and gallium were in the higher end and should be considered secondary to elements such as strontium and barium that had overall better results. The results of this study along with other considerations such as thermodynamics, and chemical reactivity will help down select a preferred lithium ternary alloy.« less

Authors:

Jolodosky, Alejandra ^[1]; Kramer, Kevin ^[2]; Meier, Wayne ^[3]; DeMuth, James ^[3]; Reyes, Susana ^[3]; Fratoni, Massimiliano ^[1]

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+ Show Author Affiliations

1. Univ. of California, Berkeley, CA (United States)
2. Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
3. TerraPower, Bellevue, WA (United States)

Publication Date:

Sat Apr 09 00:00:00 EDT 2016

Research Org.:

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)

Sponsoring Org.:

USDOE

OSTI Identifier:

1262171

Alternate Identifier(s):

OSTI ID: 1360840

Report Number(s):

LLNL-JRNL-677168; 14-ERD-035
Journal ID: ISSN 0920-3796

Grant/Contract Number:  

AC52-07NA27344; 14-ERD-035

Resource Type:

Accepted Manuscript

Journal Name:

Fusion Engineering and Design

Additional Journal Information:

Journal Volume: 107; Journal Issue: C; Journal ID: ISSN 0920-3796

Publisher:

Elsevier

Country of Publication:

United States

Language:

English

Subject:

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE; 70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY; IFE; Ternary; TBR; EMF; Enrichment; Activation