High temperature liquid metal corrosion and its thermal hydraulic effects in spent fuel transmutation systems

Abstract

The corrosion of Liquid lead or lead-bismuth eutectic (LBE) on the structural steels is a serious problem for their application in fast reactors or accelerator-driven transmutation systems. This paper focuses on the modeling and experimental study on LBE corrosion in the spent fuel transmutation systems, as well as the effects of corrosion products on heat transfer and flow. By studying the corrosion and deposit of the oxidation products on the pipe wall, the empirical correlations of thermal resistance and fouling factor can be theoretically developed and experimentally verified. The comparison of fouling factors obtained with each oxygen level is presented, the relationship between fouling factors and oxygen concentrations is correlated, and the effects of oxidation on heat transfer are demonstrated qualitatively by wetting conditions of the samples.