Materials Chemistry Applications that Support the Nuclear Industry

支持核工业的材料化学应用

• 批准号: RGPIN-2017-06196
• 负责人: Kaye, Matthew
• 金额: $ 1.75万
• 依托单位: University of Ontario Institute of Technology
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2020
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2020-01-01 至 2021-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=712084
• 关键词: Materials; Chemistry; Applications; Support; Nuclear

The proposed research is intended to support the nuclear industry in the research areas of applied thermodynamics, high temperature materials chemistry, and aqueous chemistry at elevated temperatures. It has been established that there are material chemistry issues related to all aspects of the fuel cycle, from processing yellow cake, design of new fuel, the next generation of nuclear reactors, and waste disposal of spent fuel. While progress has been made to develop thermodynamic models for describing the behaviour of fuel in various environments (i.e., gaseous, aqueous) issues remain, and as the need to produce environmentally responsible forms of energy increases in the 21st century, it is essential that solutions to these issues be found. One of the basic tools for high temperature materials is the phase diagram and phase diagram evaluation. The proposed research will build on the primary investigator's background in applying thermodynamic phase diagram modelling to systems of interest. Previous work by the PI has modelled various metallic alloy systems known to form in burned up fuel. The quaternary system of Pd-Sn-Sb-Te and the ternary Pd-Ag-Cd are known to be important during accident scenarios: the quaternary in aerosols in the heat transfer circuit and the ternary with the control rods. As well, there are other metallic alloy systems that may be suitable liquid coolants in the next generation of reactors. In the area of proposed new fuels, uranium carbides and nitrides show potential, but are not as well understood as UO2. Further, replacing uranium with thorium (or using both together) may be of interest. Understanding how these systems behave is the first step in developing them into fuel, and is important in considering accident scenarios. A multi-year and multi-faceted approach is being proposed, continuing experimental work being performed at the University of Ontario Institute of Technology using X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Differential Thermal Analysis (DTA), and other methods. Continuing collaborations with the Canadian Nuclear Labs (Chalk River) as the PI and CNL have a long standing history. Internationally, the PI has developed links to the major research institutions in Europe (e.g., CEA, ITU, and IRSN). This has allowed for the potential to do experimental work in conjunction with these partners in areas of mutual interest. In collaboration with colleagues at UOIT, studies of proposed disposal methods for fuel are planned. The models for fuel, while developed for high temperature behaviour can be adapted to an aqueous environment (e.g., storage bays) or proposed environments for underground burial. The work also lends itself to studying corrosion in various nuclear applications. In conclusion, this work will strengthen the links between experimental work performed at UOIT (or elsewhere) and the thermodynamic and thermochemical models that can be subsequently developed.

拟议的研究旨在支持核工业在应用热力学，高温材料化学和高温下的水化学研究领域。已经确定的是，从处理黄饼、新燃料的设计、下一代核反应堆到乏燃料的废物处理，燃料循环的所有方面都涉及到材料化学问题。虽然在开发用于描述燃料在各种环境中的行为的热力学模型（即，气体、水）的问题仍然存在，并且随着在21世纪对产生对环境负责的能量形式的需求的增加，找到这些问题的解决方案是至关重要的。 高温材料的基本工具之一是相图和相图评估。拟议的研究将建立在主要研究人员的背景下，在应用热力学相图建模系统的利益。PI先前的工作已经模拟了已知在燃烧燃料中形成的各种金属合金系统。已知Pd-Sn-Sb-Te四元体系和Pd-Ag-Cd三元体系在事故情景中是重要的：传热回路中气溶胶中的四元体系和控制棒中的三元体系。同样，还有其他金属合金系统可能是下一代反应堆中合适的液体冷却剂。 在拟议的新燃料领域，碳化铀和氮化铀显示出潜力，但不像二氧化铀那样得到充分了解。此外，用钍代替铀（或一起使用两者）可能是令人感兴趣的。了解这些系统的行为是将其开发为燃料的第一步，并且在考虑事故场景时非常重要。 一个多年和多方面的方法正在提出，继续实验工作正在进行的安大略大学理工学院使用X射线衍射（XRD），差热分析（DTA），和其他方法。继续与加拿大核实验室（乔克河）合作，因为PI和CNL有着悠久的历史。在国际上，PI与欧洲的主要研究机构建立了联系（例如，CEA、ITU和IRSN）。这使得有可能在共同感兴趣的领域与这些伙伴一起进行实验工作。 计划与UOIT的同事合作，研究拟议的燃料处置方法。燃料模型虽然是针对高温行为开发的，但也可适用于含水环境（例如，储存舱）或建议的地下埋葬环境。这项工作也有助于研究各种核应用中的腐蚀。总之，这项工作将加强在UOIT（或其他地方）进行的实验工作与随后开发的热力学和热化学模型之间的联系。