NSUF 19-CINR-16895: Irradiation of Optical Components of In-Situ Laser Spectroscopic Sensors for Advanced Nuclear Reactor Systems
The development of next-generation fission reactors relies on answering important fundamental questions about fuel and coolant behavior and compatibility with advanced reactor designs and materials. Of particular interest is the understanding of conditions that would allow advanced reactors to reach ambitious longevity and safety goals. Beyond fundamental scientific research, there is a need to develop novel instrumentation that will enable new reactors to continuously operate in optimal conditions and with ample safety margin. A key requirement for sensor and instrumentation in new reactors is continuous, in-line measurement of circulated coolant or coolantfuel composition and temperature to prevent reactor system degradation through corrosion. In molten salt reactors, first priorities for measurement include the detection of traces of dissolved alloys such as chromium, iron, and nickel, as well as the measurement of the uranium oxidation state (U3+/U4+) ratio to ensure proper redox control can be maintained. In liquid metal cooled reactors, measurement techniques and devices should be developed to detect traces of manganese, chromium, and nickel in lead or lead-bismuth eutectic. The currently available technology is inadequate for making such measurements in the challenging environments of nuclear systems that include high radiation, temperature, pressure, and limited access. Material composition measurements can be performed by sampling and conducting lengthy laboratory analysis, which is incompatible with in-situ, real-time concept of operations. Instrumentation based uponelectrochemistry can suffer from interferences in multi-component mixtures. The use of thermocouples in liquid metal and molten salt systems also needs validation and would benefitfrom the existence of more resilient redundant systems.These limitations may be overcome by development and adoption of novel sensors which rely on laser spectroscopy to determine composition and infrared optical emission to measure temperature. Such sensors critically depend on the passage of light through transparent optical material (viewport) – to deliver the laser radiation, as well as to collect spectroscopic signal or infrared optical emission. Degradation of optical systems in high-radiation environments characteristic for nuclear reactor systems raises important questions about the performance and lifetime of sensors and instrumentation based upon optical techniques. The objective of this project is to investigate the effect of radiation damage in optical materials on the operation and performance of laser spectroscopic sensors and infrared temperature sensors. Significantly beyond the scope of prior studies in which the spectrally dependent changes of transparency and high-temperature annealing of optical damage were observed, this project will seek to understand the effect of simultaneous radiation damage and annealing on optical materials operated in high-temperature environments and evaluate the effect of irradiation on nonlinear optical absorption, which is critical for propagation of high-power laser pulses. As a result, we will determine whether such sensors hold promise for practical use in advanced reactor systems.
Допълнителна информация
| Поле | Стойност |
|---|---|
| Abstract | The development of next-generation fission reactors relies on answering important fundamental questions about fuel and coolant behavior and compatibility with advanced reactor designs and materials. Of particular interest is the understanding of conditions that would allow advanced reactors to reach ambitious longevity and safety goals. Beyond fundamental scientific research, there is a need to develop novel instrumentation that will enable new reactors to continuously operate in optimal conditions and with ample safety margin. A key requirement for sensor and instrumentation in new reactors is continuous, in-line measurement of circulated coolant or coolantfuel composition and temperature to prevent reactor system degradation through corrosion. In molten salt reactors, first priorities for measurement include the detection of traces of dissolved alloys such as chromium, iron, and nickel, as well as the measurement of the uranium oxidation state (U3+/U4+) ratio to ensure proper redox control can be maintained. In liquid metal cooled reactors, measurement techniques and devices should be developed to detect traces of manganese, chromium, and nickel in lead or lead-bismuth eutectic. The currently available technology is inadequate for making such measurements in the challenging environments of nuclear systems that include high radiation, temperature, pressure, and limited access. Material composition measurements can be performed by sampling and conducting lengthy laboratory analysis, which is incompatible with in-situ, real-time concept of operations. Instrumentation based uponelectrochemistry can suffer from interferences in multi-component mixtures. The use of thermocouples in liquid metal and molten salt systems also needs validation and would benefitfrom the existence of more resilient redundant systems.These limitations may be overcome by development and adoption of novel sensors which rely on laser spectroscopy to determine composition and infrared optical emission to measure temperature. Such sensors critically depend on the passage of light through transparent optical material (viewport) – to deliver the laser radiation, as well as to collect spectroscopic signal or infrared optical emission. Degradation of optical systems in high-radiation environments characteristic for nuclear reactor systems raises important questions about the performance and lifetime of sensors and instrumentation based upon optical techniques. The objective of this project is to investigate the effect of radiation damage in optical materials on the operation and performance of laser spectroscopic sensors and infrared temperature sensors. Significantly beyond the scope of prior studies in which the spectrally dependent changes of transparency and high-temperature annealing of optical damage were observed, this project will seek to understand the effect of simultaneous radiation damage and annealing on optical materials operated in high-temperature environments and evaluate the effect of irradiation on nonlinear optical absorption, which is critical for propagation of high-power laser pulses. As a result, we will determine whether such sensors hold promise for practical use in advanced reactor systems. |
| Award Announced Date | 2020-01-08T00:00:00 |
| Awarded Institution | None |
| Facility | None |
| Facility Tech Lead | |
| Irradiation Facility | None |
| PI | Igor Jovanovic |
| PI Email | [email protected] |
| Project Type | CINR |
| RTE Number | 3076 |