Codes and standards for ceramic composite core materials for High Temperature Reactor applications

Feasibility Studies and Downselection of New Materials and Manufacturing Technologies for Nuclear Applications

“…The span of the TPB loading was 12.5 mm. A streamlined procedure was created, from precracking to static fracture testing to fracture toughness calculation, which was established for miniature fracture testing by the lead author [11,10,77]. The procedure was applied to the fracture toughness testing of the 14 mm long miniature specimens.…”

“…These composite materials have widespread applications in other industries, as well, namely the aerospace and automotive industries. Within a reactor, composites may be used for control rod sleeves, guide tubes, upper core restraint structures, upper plenum shrouds, hot gas duct insulation modules, fuel cladding, heat pipes, and within heat exchangers [41,77,78]. Specifically, SiC is also seen as an ATF cladding and has been used as a layer in fuel architectures such as TRISO fuels [79][80][81].…”

“…Code and Standards Availability: 3/5. A score of 3 was given for code and standards availability because the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Boiler Presser Vessel Code covers design and construction rules for high-temperature reactor components with ceramic composites under Section III, Division 5, Subsection HH [77].…”

“…Applicability to Different Reactor Types: 4/5. The SiC/SiC has foreseen application in GFR, VHTR, LWR (ATF cladding), SFR (fuel-assembly body), and lead-cooled fast reactor (LFR, fuel cladding) applications [41,77,84,92,103].…”

“…Code and Standards Availability: 3/5. The ASME Boiler Pressure Vessel Code, under Section III, Division 5, Subsection HH, covers design and construction rules for high-temperature reactor components with ceramic composites [77].…”