Liquid lead-bismuth eutectic (LBE) may see extensive use as a coolant fluid, and perhaps also as a spallation target, in the next generation nuclear energy system. However, it is very corrosive to the common steels used in nuclear installations. This corrosion problem can be prevented by the formation of a protective oxide layer on the exposed surface of steel. For this purpose, accurately measuring and controlling the oxygen concentration in liquid LBE is very important. Electrochemical oxygen sensors with In/In 2 O 3 and Bi/Bi 2 O 3 reference systems can be used as in situ devices for measuring the oxygen concentration in liquid LBE. YSZ (Yttria Stabilized Zirconia) oxygen sensor with molten bismuth saturated with oxygen as a reference, has been selected to measure the oxygen concentration in LBE coolant system. The oxygen concentration difference across the solid electrolyte and the resultant oxygen ion conduction inside the electrolyte establish an electromagnetic force (EMF) that is used to measure the ppb level of dissolved oxygen concentration in liquid LBE. In this paper, the sensitivity of an YSZ oxygen sensor has been evaluated. Sensor calibration curves in liquid LBE at 450 o C have been obtained.
An advanced spent fuel management process based on the Li reduction of oxide spent fuel to a metallic form, under development at Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI), will generate a LiCl waste. To develop an immobilization process of the LiCl waste salt using zeolite A, the behavior of zeolite A in molten LiCl salt with CsCl and SrCl2 has been investigated at 923 K. All the types of zeolite A’s have been transformed into zeolite Li-A after contact with molten LiCl salt. The sodalite phase has also been formed for the high LiCl/zeolite ratio, and this sodalite formation has been enhanced by an addition of CsCl or SrCl2. These results seem to be caused by the high temperature and Li concentration during the occlusion step. Ion-exchange properties of Cs and Sr at 923 K were very similar to those of the LiCl-KCl eutectic salt at 725 K: an uptake of Cs reached an equilibrium state very rapidly and kept constant, while that of Sr reached a maximum and decreased slightly.
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