Effects of Hydrogen Redistribution at High Temperatures in Yttrium Hydride Moderator Material

Trellue, Holly Renee; Long, Alexander Makenzie; Luther, Erik Paul; Carver, Dale Travis; Mehta, Vedant Kiritkumar

doi:10.1007/s11837-021-04898-2

Title: Effects of Hydrogen Redistribution at High Temperatures in Yttrium Hydride Moderator Material

Journal Article · 18 October 2021 · JOM. Journal of the Minerals, Metals & Materials Society

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11837-021-04898-2 · OSTI ID:1868231

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Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)

We report advanced materials development, manufacturing, and modeling capabilities for innovative reactor designs support nuclear security and mission-focused science through enhanced technology for safer and more efficient and secure production of nuclear energy. The high temperature moderator material yttrium hydride poses a significant enhancement in small reactor design by thermalizing (slowing down) neutrons and decreasing the required fuel mass for a system. The research presented here supports understanding hydrogen distribution in yttrium hydride through: (1) the development of neutron-based hydrogen imaging and crystallographic characterization that allows us to understand fundamental diffraction behaviors and to observe changes in hydrogen distribution as a function of temperature and (2) subsequent neutron multiplication (reactivity) effects of changes in hydrogen distribution using measurement-based cross sections in a sample microreactor design. The main conclusions from the work are that: (1) hydrogen does not redistribute significantly below temperatures of 800°C in yttrium hydride and (2) hydrogen redistribution affects the reactivity slightly but not significantly.

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Research Organization:: Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA); USDOE Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD) Program

Grant/Contract Number:: 89233218CNA000001

OSTI ID:: 1868231

Report Number(s):: LA-UR-21-24178

Journal Information:: JOM. Journal of the Minerals, Metals & Materials Society, Vol. 73, Issue 11; ISSN 1047-4838

Publisher:: SpringerCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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