SBIR Phase I: Thermal Expansion Reduction Study of Neutron Shielding Material

SBIR第一阶段：中子屏蔽材料的热膨胀减小研究

• 批准号: 1913303
• 负责人: Danielle Castley
• 金额: $ 22.5万
• 依托单位: Neutroelectric, LLC
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2019
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2019-06-01 至 2020-05-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1913303&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: SBIR; Phase; Thermal; Expansion; Reduction

The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is to enable safer and more economical nuclear power. This project will help increase the safety of nuclear power plants by reducing radiation damage to reactor components and reducing radiation exposure to power plant workers and personnel. In addition, it will reduce overall plant life cycle costs by reducing the cost of spent fuel management and decommissioning. By these means, this project will support the public benefit from continued and expanded use of nuclear power as a clean energy source.This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project goal is to reduce the thermal expansion properties of a lightweight, high-temperature neutron shielding material. The key value proposition provided by this material over existing products is the unique increase in the operating temperature without producing a notable increase in weight or reduction in neutron stopping power. However, to enable its practical use, the material must be further adapted to reduce the coefficient of thermal expansion to meet reactor design requirements. With success, the proposed project will overcome the technical hurdle of reducing the coefficient of thermal expansion without altering other key material properties such as neutron stopping power, radiation resistance, density, and maximum operating temperature. Three approaches applied separately and in combination, if necessary, will be explored for reducing the coefficient of thermal expansion. These strategies may also be applicable for reducing the coefficient of thermal expansion in other neutron shielding materials with design limitations.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

这个小型企业创新研究（SBIR）第一阶段项目的更广泛的影响/商业潜力是实现更安全，更经济的核电。 该项目将通过减少对反应堆部件的辐射损害和减少发电厂工人和人员的辐射照射，帮助提高核电厂的安全性。 此外，它还将通过减少乏燃料管理和退役的费用，减少整个核电厂生命周期的费用。 通过这些手段，该项目将支持公众从持续和扩大使用核能作为一种清洁能源中受益。这个小企业创新研究（SBIR）第一阶段项目的目标是降低轻质高温中子屏蔽材料的热膨胀性能。 与现有产品相比，该材料提供的关键价值主张是独特的工作温度增加，而不会显著增加重量或降低中子阻止能力。然而，为了使其能够实际使用，该材料必须进一步适于降低热膨胀系数以满足反应器设计要求。 如果成功，拟议的项目将克服降低热膨胀系数的技术障碍，而不改变其他关键材料特性，如中子阻止能力，耐辐射性，密度和最高工作温度。 三种方法单独应用，并在必要时结合使用，将探讨降低热膨胀系数。 这些策略也可用于降低其他中子屏蔽材料的热膨胀系数与设计limitation.This奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并已被认为是值得通过使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估的支持。