Advanced Moderation Module for High-Temperature Micro-Reactor Applications

Abstract

Development and deployment of micro-reactors that provide competitive efficiency, prevailing compactness, and inherent safety is an immediate focus of the U.S. nuclear industry. For thermal neutron micro-reactors operating at elevated temperature for optimized efficiency, such as micro molten-salt reactors (MSRs), heat-pipe reactors, and very-high temperature reactors (VHTRs), highperformance moderator based on metal hydride can enhance the neutron economy and therefore achieve reduced weight and enhanced portability. As unclad metal hydride inevitably decomposes at elevated temperature, an enclosure is required for hydride moderator to deliver desired performance at elevated temperatures. Conventional moderator enclosure solutions based on high-temperature alloys introduce extraneous neutron penalty into the micro-reactor, affecting the neutronic benefits provided by the hydride moderator. Additionally, the compatibility between the high-temperature alloy enclosure and the micro-reactor matrix is also a potential issue.

Development of Hydrogen Permeation Barrier and Matrix Interaction Protection Coatings for TZM Enclosure of Hydride Moderators (Microreactor Program M3 Report)

“…This will allow to implement more layers of the effective H2 permeation barrier material and make the coating more robust in the long-term application at higher temperatures. Similar coating designs (metal/ceramic) have been applied for high temperature thermal barrier coating applications and as a H2 permeation barriers for Nb based advanced moderator module liners developed at ANL [11,12]. (BCC) structures have relatively high irradiation stability [13].…”

Hydrogen and its detection in fusion and fission nuclear materials – a review

“…While substantial testing was performed in the 1950-60's for the ANP program, including irradiation testing, those were designed and performed to operate under drastically different conditions (e.g., air working fluid) than what will be used in modern microreactors. In addition, modern advanced fabrication methods can likewise be leveraged to create solutions that were not possible decades ago [44].…”

Business Impact Analysis of AMM Data: A Case Study

“…Distribution companies can thus also influence (optimize) the course of the daily load in distribution networks within the limits set by tariff schemes approved by the regulatory authority. At the same time, it should be noted that the potential for savings and the management of electricity consumption on the part of customers who do not use electricity for heating and storage water heating is low, given the share represented by this consumption in total household consumption and its time structure [3].…”