The purpose of this report is to provide a review of thermophysical properties and thermochemical characteristics of candidate molten salt coolants, which may be used as a primary coolant within a nuclear reactor or heat transport medium from the Very High Temperature Reactor (VHTR) to a processing plant; for example, a hydrogen-production plant. Thermodynamic properties of four types of molten salts, including LiF-BeF 2 (67 and 33 mol%, respectively; also known as FLiBe), LiF-NaF-KF (46.5, 11.5, and 52 mol%, also known as FLiNaK), and KCl-MgCl 2 (67 and 33 mol%), and sodium nitrate-sodium nitrite-potassium nitrate (NaNO 3-NaNO 2-KNO 3 , 7-49-44 mol%, also known as Hitec® salt) have been investigated. Limitations of existing correlations to predict density, viscosity, specific heat capacity, surface tension, and thermal conductivity were identified. The impact of thermodynamic properties on the heat transfer, especially the Nusselt number, was also discussed. Stability of the molten salts with structural alloys and their compatibility with the structural alloys was studied. Nickel and high temperature alloys with dense Ni coatings are effectively inert to corrosion in fluorides, but not so in chlorides. Of the chromium containing alloys, Hastelloy N appears to have the best corrosion resistance in fluorides, while Haynes 230 was the most resistant in chloride. In general, alloys with increasing carbon and chromium content are increasingly subject to corrosion by the fluoride salts FLiBe and FLiNaK due to attack and dissolution of the intergranular chromium carbide. Future research to obtain needed information was identified.

A fibre-optic measurement system to analyse the deformation of in-vessel components has successfully been developed, installed and commissioned at ASDEX Upgrade (AUG). This technology has thereby been qualified for in-vessel use at experimental fusion devices. AUG is equipped with an internal conductor for passive plasma stabilisation called the Passive Stabilisation Loop (PSL), on which the recently installed 16 internal coils (B-coils) are directly mounted. The PSL structure is highly prone to vibrations, and the risk of resonant oscillations in response to B-coil induced forces necessitated the development of the present diagnostic. The diagnostic system consists of 34 fibre-optic strain sensors incorporated in two glass fibres. It is completely insensitive to electromagnetic disturbances. The fibres are customised to avoid inconvenient excess fibre length in the vacuum vessel. They were tested for their neutron tolerance and vacuum compatibility prior to installation. The actual sensors are embedded in stainless steel carriers that were attached to the PSL, which is made of copper, by laser welding. Appropriate welding parameters were determined in view of the metallurgical dissimilarity. The weld quality was approved by tensile tests and microscopic investigations. Accurate in-vessel positioning of the sensors was assured using a 3D measurement system and coordinates from CAD. The data acquisition allows a sampling rate of 1 kHz. It was shown that the temporal and spatial resolutions of the system are sufficient to resolve the potentially dangerous bending eigenmodes of the PSL rings.

This report documents visual examination and testing conducted in 1999 and early 2000 at the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory (INEEL) on a Gesellschaft für Nuklear Service (GNS) CASTOR V/21 pressurized water reactor (PWR) spent fuel dry storage cask. The purpose of the examination and testing is to develop a technical basis for renewal of licenses and Certificates of Compliance for dry storage systems for spent nuclear fuel and high-level waste at independent spent fuel storage installation sites. The examination and testing was conducted to assess the condition of the cask internal and external surfaces, cask contents consisting of 21 Westinghouse PWR spent fuel assemblies from Dominion's (formerly named Virginia Power) Surry Power Station and cask concrete storage pad. The assemblies have been continuously stored in the CASTOR cask since 1985. Cask exterior surface and selected fuel assembly temperatures, and cask surface gamma and neutron dose rates were measured. Cask external/internal surfaces, fuel basket components including accessible weldments, fuel assembly exteriors, and primary lid seals were visually examined. Selected fuel rods were removed from one fuel assembly, visually examined, and then shipped to Argonne National Laboratory for nondestructive, destructive, and mechanical examination. Cask interior crud samples and helium cover gas samples were collected and analyzed. The results of the examination and testing indicate the concrete storage pad, CASTOR V/21 cask, and cask contents exhibited sound structural and seal integrity and that long-term storage has not caused detectable degradation of the spent fuel cladding or the release of gaseous fission products between 1985 and 1999.

The purpose of this report is to provide a review of thermophysical properties and thermochemical characteristics of candidate molten salt coolants, which may be used as a primary coolant within a nuclear reactor or heat transport medium from the Very High Temperature Reactor (VHTR) to a processing plant; for example, a hydrogen-production plant. Thermodynamic properties of four types of molten salts, including LiF-BeF 2 (67 and 33 mol%, respectively; also known as FLiBe), LiF-NaF-KF (46.5, 11.5, and 52 mol%, also known as FLiNaK), and KCl-MgCl 2 (67 and 33 mol%), and sodium nitrate-sodium nitrite-potassium nitrate (NaNO 3 -NaNO 2 -KNO 3 , 7-49-44 mol%, also known as Hitec® salt) have been investigated. Limitations of existing correlations to predict density, viscosity, specific heat capacity, surface tension, and thermal conductivity were identified. The impact of thermodynamic properties on the heat transfer, especially the Nusselt number, was also discussed.Stability of the molten salts with structural alloys and their compatibility with the structural alloys was studied. Nickel and high temperature alloys with dense Ni coatings are effectively inert to corrosion in fluorides, but not so in chlorides. Of the chromium containing alloys, Hastelloy N appears to have the best corrosion resistance in fluorides, while Haynes 230 was the most resistant in chloride. In general, alloys with increasing carbon and chromium content are increasingly subject to corrosion by the fluoride salts FLiBe and FLiNaK due to attack and dissolution of the intergranular chromium carbide. Future research to obtain needed information was identified.

The flame resistance of six refractories of commercial purity was measured in the well-mixed stoichiometric portion and in the unmixed fluorine-rich portion of a hydrogen-fluorine difiusion flame. Graphite, silicon carbide, zircon, alumina, zirconia, and magnesia are decreasingly resistant to the test flame in the order indicated. The rate of ablation is about three times more rapid and the average surface temperatures are 130' to 745°C. higher where the flame is fluorine-rich. Graphite and silicon carbide are suggested for use in HF flames because of their good thermal-shock resistance and relative chemical inertness to the flame. Consideration of the ablation chemistry indicates that zircon dissociates and then, like graphite, silicon carbide, and zirconia, ablates by flame-solid reaction, whereas alumina and magnesia form liquids which flow from the impingement area.

The physical and chemical factors pertaining to uranium metal and uranium hydride combustion, and particularly pyrophoricity in an ambient environment, have been evaluated for the BMI-SPEC and the UAl, plate fuels. Some metal fuels may have a highly reactive chemical and physical configuration, such as a high specific surface area, high decay heat, or a high uranium hydride content resulting from corrosion of the metal during underwater storage, that may cause the spontaneous ignition of the metal fuel in air at ambient (or process) temperatures. However, for the BMI-SPEC and the aluminum plate fuels these characteristics are too low to present a realistic threat of uncontrolled spontaneous combustion at ambient conditions. In particular, while residual uranium hydride is expected to be present in these corroded fuels, the hydride levels are expected to be too low and the configuration too unfavorable to ignite the fuel meat when the fuels are retrieved from the basin and dried. Furthermore, the composition and the microstructure of the UAl, fuels fwrther mitigate that risk. The reaction with water is considerably less energetic and proceeds by non-linear kinetics. The rate of reaction, while initially fast, drops rapidly with exposure time.6 The hydride consumption rate 2 DISCLAIMER This report was prepared as an account of work sponsored by an agency of the United States Government. Neither the United States Government nor any agency thereof. nor any of their employets, makes any warranty, express or implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights. Reference herein to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement. recommendation, or favoring by the United States Government or any agency thereof. "he v i m and opinions of authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United States Government or any agency thereof.-DISCLAIMER This report was prepared as an account of work sponsored by an agency of the United States Government Neither the United States Government nor any agency thereof, nor any of their employees, makes any warranty, express or implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights. Reference herein to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States Government or any agency thereof. The views and opinions of authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United States Government or any agency thereof,

Portions of this document may be illegible in electronic image products. Images are produced from the best available original document.

A simple technique is described for inserting single gas-filled laser fusion pellets into high-vacuum systems for qualitative gas analysis.