Nuclear Engineering Commons^™

Afci Quarterly Input – Unlv April Through June, 2005, Harry Reid Center For Environmental Studies. Nuclear Science And Technology Division

Transmutation Research Program Reports (TRP)

Quarterly report highlighting research projects, activities and objectives of the Transmutation Research Program at the Nuclear Science & Technology Division, Harry Reid Research Center.

The University of Nevada, Las Vegas supports the AFCI through research and development of technologies for economic and environmentally sound refinement of spent nuclear fuel. The UNLV program has four components: infrastructure, international collaboration, student-based research, and management and program support.

Dissolution, Reactor, And Environmental Behavior Of Zro2-Mgo Inert Fuel Matrix: Neutronic Evaluation Of Zro2-Mgo Inert Fuels, E. Fridman, S. Kolesnikov, E. Shwageraus, A. Galperin

Fuels Campaign (TRP)

This report presents the results of the Task 4, defined in working program as: evaluation of reactivity feedback coefficients. Three main parameters of the Fertile-Free Fuel (FFF) lattices were evaluated: Moderator Temperature Coefficient (MTC), Fuel Temperature Coefficient due to Doppler Effect (DC), and soluble Boron reactivity worth (BW).

One of the major design challenges associated with utilization of FFF is deterioration of the temperature coefficients and control materials reactivity worth caused by high thermal cross-section of Pu and consequent hardening of the neutron spectrum. The purpose of the investigation reported in this section is to estimate the potential of addition …

Use Of Positron Annihilation Spectroscopy For Stress-Strain Measurements: Quarterly Progress Report (December 01, 2004 – February 28, 2005), Ajit K. Roy

Transmutation Sciences Materials (TRP)

The purpose of this collaborative research project involving the University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV), the Idaho State University (ISU), and the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) is to evaluate the feasibility of determining residual stresses in cold-worked, plastically-deformed (bent), and welded materials using a nondestructive method based on positron annihilation spectroscopy (PAS). This technique uses γ-rays from a small MeV electron Linac to generate positrons inside the sample via pair production. This method is known to have capabilities of characterizing defects in thick specimens that could not be accomplished by conventional positron technique or other nondestructive methods. The data …

Effect Of Silicon Content On The Corrosion Resistance And Radiation-Induced Embrittlement Of Materials For Advanced Heavy Liquid Metal Nuclear Systems: Quarterly Progress Report (November 2004 – January 2005), Ajit K. Roy

Transmutation Sciences Materials (TRP)

This proposal is intended to study the effect of Si content not only on the corrosion resistance but also on the radiation-induced embrittlement of martensitic stainless steels. The susceptibility of these alloys with different Si content to stress corrosion cracking, general corrosion and localized corrosion will be evaluated in the molten LBE and aqueous environments of different pH values using state-of-the-art testing techniques. Testing in the aqueous media is intended to develop baseline data for comparison purpose. Radiation-induced embrittlement of these alloys will initially be studied by irradiating the test specimens with bremmstrahlung gamma radiation from 20-40 MeV electron beams …

Modeling, Fabrication, And Optimization Of Niobium Cavities: Phase Iii Fourth Quarterly Report, Robert A. Schill Jr., Mohamed Trabia, William Culbreth

Transmutation Sciences Materials (TRP)

Niobium cavities are important parts of the integrated NC/SC high-power linacs. Over the years, researchers in several countries have tested various cavity shapes. They concluded that elliptically shaped cells are the most appropriate shape for niobium superconducting cavities. The surface preparation can significantly affect the secondary electron emission yields. Such yields are used in design codes. Current codes use values obtained from niobium samples cleaned by a different means at temperatures other than the operating temperature. Secondary electron emission studies on LANL surface-cleaned niobium are conducted with preliminary data presented in this report at room temperature. Soon studies will be …

Fundamental And Applied Experimental Investigations Of Corrosion Of Steel By Lbe Under Controlled Conditions: Kinetics, Chemistry, Morphology, And Surface Preparation: Quarterly Report (January 2005-April 2005), Allen L. Johnson, John Farley, Dale L. Perry

Transmutation Sciences Materials (TRP)

This project has four components:

• The fabrication of a materials test apparatus with unique capabilities,
• Comparative studies of steel corrosion under gas phase conditions comparable to the Lead Bismuth Eutectic (LBE) oxygen control conditions,
• Isotope labeling studies, and
• Collaborative efforts with other workers in the field.

Summary of accomplishments:

• Started occupation of the High Temperature Materials Experimental Facility.
• Presented a paper at the meeting of the American Chemical Society in San Diego in March 13-17.
• Currently reviving the ion beam for implantation experiments.
• Currently analyzing 38 steel samples from the DELTA loop from LANL.

Design Concepts And Process Analysis For Transmuter Fuel Manufacturing: Quarterly Progress Report #2, Jamil M. Renno, Georg F. Mauer

Fuels Campaign (TRP)

This report discusses mainly the fabrication of inert matrix fuels. There are three fabrication routes to obtain inert matrix fuels (IMF). IMF is a dispersion-type fuel in which the actinide phase is distributed as a separate phase in a so called inert matrix. This concept has evolved as one of the most promising in the field of transmutation. The following section discusses each manufacturing route aside.

Residual Stress Characterization In Structural Materials By Destructive And Nondestructive Techniques, Ajit K. Roy, Anand Venkatesh, Vikram Marthandam, Satish Dronavalli, Douglas P. Wells, Ronald Rogge

Mechanical Engineering Faculty Research

Transmutation of nuclear waste is currently being considered to transform long-lived isotopes to species with relatively short half-lives and reduced radioactivity through capture and decay of minor actinides and fission products. This process is intended for geologic disposal of spent nuclear fuels for shorter durations in the proposed Yucca Mountain repository. The molten lead-bismuth-eutectic will be used as a target and coolant during transmutation, which will be contained in a subsystem vessel made from materials such as austenitic (304L) and martensitic (EP-823 and HT-9) stainless steels. The structural materials used in this vessel will be subjected to welding operations and …

Development Of Integrated Process Simulation System Model For Spent Fuel Treatment Facility (Sftf) Design: Quarterly Progress Report January 1-March 31, 2005, Yitung Chen, Sean Hsieh

Separations Campaign (TRP)

The Advanced Fuel Cycle Initiative (AFCI) and Transmutation Research Program-University Participation Program (TRP-UPP) supported by Department of Energy of the United States have been developing many important technologies for the transmutation of nuclear waste to address long-term disposal issues. While successfully embedding AMUSE module into a dedicated System Engineering Model (TRPSEMPro), developed by the Nevada Center for Advanced Computational Methods (NCACM) at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas collaborating with Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), ANL is interested in further simulating the Light Water Reactor (LWR) Spent Fuel Treatment Facility (SFTF) combining commercial process simulation and analysis packages and core calculation of …

Developing A Sensing System For The Measurement Of Oxygen Concentration In Liquid Pb-Bi Eutectic: Quarterly Progress Report (Jan. 01 – March. 31, 2005), Yingtao Jiang, Bingmei Fu

Transmutation Sciences Materials (TRP)

We performed data analysis on the data collected from LANL test loop. One student was been hired to perform the data analysis. A new proposal is submitted to TRP program. We have one paper accepted for publication in International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, and another paper accepted for oral presentation by IEEE International Symposium of Circuits and Systems for the track Chemical Sensors. A manuscript regarding to the RGA analysis for the calibration of oxygen sensor is on the way.

Theoretical Modeling Of Protective Oxide Layer Growth In Non-Isothermal Lead-Alloys Coolant Systems: Quarterly Progress Report (01/01/05- 03/31/05), Yitung Chen

Transmutation Sciences Materials (TRP)

The goal of the proposed research project is to provide basic understanding of the protective oxide layer behaviors and to develop oxide layer growth models of steels in non-isothermal lead-alloys (lead or lead-bismuth eutectic) coolant systems. It is widely recognized that the corrosiveness of the lead-alloys is a critical obstacle and challenge for which it can be safely used or applied in the nuclear coolant systems. Active oxygen control technique can promote the formation of the “self-healing” oxide films on the structural material surface, drastically reducing steel corrosion and coolant contamination. Many experiments of steels exposed to flowing lead-alloys have …

High Temperature Heat Exchanger Project:Quarterly Progress Report January 1, 2005 Through March 31, 2005, Anthony Hechanova

Publications (NSTD)

Quarterly Collaboration Meeting. Ceramatec, Inc. hosted a UNLVRF HTHX Project quarterly meeting on March 17 in Salt Lake City, Utah. The purpose of the meeting was to promote collaboration and communication among the UNLV Research Foundation partners. Collaborators had the opportunity to discuss their research program plan and update their progress. The next meeting will be in June in San Diego City hosted by General Atomics.

Fundamental Chemistry Of U And Pu In The Tbp-Dodecane-Nitric Acid System: Quaterly Report January - March, 2005, Kenneth Czerwinski, Cynthia-May Gong, Amber Wright

Separations Campaign (TRP)

The speciation of hexavalent U and tetravalent Pu will be examined in the TBP-dodecane-nitric acid systems. This topic is chosen based on data needs for separation modeling identified by the AFCI. Emphasis will be placed on studying the influence of nitrate and acetohydroxamic acid on U and Pu speciation as well as conditions where a third phase forms in the organic phase. The organic phase will be 30% TBP in dodecane. Equal volumes of aqueous and organic phase will be used. The speciation of the actinides in the aqueous and organic phase will be determined by a number of different …

Neutron Multiplicity Measurements For The Afci Program Quarterly Progress Report January-March 2005, Denis Beller

Transmutation Sciences Physics (TRP)

The U.S. Advanced Fuel Cycle Initiative (AFCI) is a program to develop economic and environmental methods to reduce the impact of waste from commercial nuclear fuel cycles. One concept for near-complete destruction of waste isotopes from used nuclear fuel is accelerator driven transmutation. High-power accelerators would be used to produce high-energy charged particles, which then collide with heavy metal targets to create a cascade of neutrons. These neutrons then cause a nuclear chain reaction in subcritical systems. Fission neutrons then transmute fissile waste isotopes as well as other problematic isotopes such as technetium-99 and iodine-129. To design these systems, complex …

Reactor Physics Studies For The Afci Race Project: Reactor-Accelerator Coupling Experiments Project: Quarterly Progress Report January-March 2005, Denis Beller

Transmutation Sciences Physics (TRP)

In the RACE Project of the U.S. Advanced Fuel Cycle Initiative (AFCI), a series of accelerator driven subcritical systems (ADSS) experiments is being conducted at the Idaho State University’s Idaho Accelerator Center (ISU-IAC), at will be conducted at the University of Texas (UT) at Austin, and at the Texas A&M University. In these experiments we will use electron accelerators to induce bremsstrahlung photon-neutron reactions in heavy-metal targets; this source of about 10¹² to 10¹³ n/s will then initiate fission reactions in the subcritical systems. These systems will include a compact, transportable assembly at ISU and TRIGA reactors at …

Dissolution, Reactor, And Environmental Behavior Of Zro2-Mgo Inert Fuel Matrix: Quarterly Report, January 2005 To March 2005, Earl Wolfram, Thomas Hartmann, Kenneth Czerwinski

Fuels Campaign (TRP)

This project will examine inert matrix fuels containing ZrO₂ and MgO as the inert matrix, with the relative amount of MgO varied from 30% to 70% in ZrO₂. Reactor physics calculations will be used to examine suitable quantities of burnable poisons from the candidate elements Gd, Er, or Hf with reactor grade Pu providing the fissile component, with up to 10% of ²³⁹Pu. Ceramics will be synthesized and characterized based on the reactor physics results. The solubility the fuel ceramics, in reactor conditions, reprocessing conditions, and repository conditions, will be investigated in a manner to provide …

Afci Quarterly Input – Unlv January Through March, 2005, Harry Reid Center For Environmental Studies. Nuclear Science And Technology Division

Transmutation Research Program Reports (TRP)

Quarterly report highlighting research projects and activities of the Transmutation Research Program at the Nuclear Science & Technology Division, Harry Reid Research Center.

The University of Nevada, Las Vegas supports the AFCI through research and development of technologies for economic and environmentally sound refinement of spent nuclear fuel. The UNLV program has four components: infrastructure, international collaboration, student-based research, and management and program support.

Impact Of The Synthesis Process On Structure Properties For Afci Fuel Candidates, Thomas Hartmann, Kenneth Czerwinski

Fuels Campaign (TRP)

Transmutation work at Los Alamos National Laboratory is currently focused on mono-nitride ceramic fuel forms, and consists of closely coordinated “hot” actinide and “cold” inert and surrogate fuels work. Matrix and surrogate materials work involves three major components: (1) fuel matrix synthesis and fabrication, (2) fuel performance, and (3) fuel materials modeling. The synthesis and fabrication component supports basic material studies, as well as actinide fuel fabrication work through fuel fabrication process development. Fuel performance studies are examining the tolerance of nitride-type fuel to heavy irradiation damage. The fuel materials simulation work involves both atomistic and continuum scale modeling employing …

Dissolution, Reactor, And Environmental Behavior Of Zro2-Mgo Inert Fuel Matrix: Neutronic Evaluation Of Zro2-Mgo Inert Fuels, E. Fridman, S. Kolesnikov, E. Shwageraus, A. Galperin

Fuels Campaign (TRP)

This report presents the results of the Task 3, defined in working program as: evaluation of burnable poison designs. Adopting the basic design of a standard PWR and Pu loadings required for 18-month cycle (results of Task 2), this part of the program is aimed to estimate performance of each BP design and BP material to address challenges of Fertile-Free Fuel (FFF) Concept. Finally, an optimal BP design will be developed and an overall feasibility of FFF concept will be determined. Basically, the main challenge encountered in neutronic design for a FFF core is to develop reactivity control system which …

Design Concepts And Process Analysis For Transmuter Fuel Manufacturing: Quarterly Progress Report #1, Jamil M. Renno, Georg F. Mauer

Fuels Campaign (TRP)

A Hot Cell robotic assembly: Pick and place dynamic simulation, including feedback control with Matlab, was developed for dispersion fuel manufacture.

The deployment of remote manufacturing of transmuter fuel is a necessity for the transmutation applications. In the reporting period, a virtual hot cell for the manufacturing of dispersion fuel was designed using MSC.visualNastran^©, ProEngineer^© and MATLAB^©. Atypical events were successfully simulated. Relevant physical quantities arising during such events were monitored as well.

Effect Of Silicon Content On The Corrosion Resistance And Radiation-Induced Embrittlement Of Materials For Advanced Heavy Liquid Metal Nuclear Systems: Quarterly Progress Report (August 2004 – October 2004), Ajit K. Roy

Transmutation Sciences Materials (TRP)

The purpose of this collaborative research project involving the University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV), Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) and Idaho State University (ISU) is to evaluate the effect of silicon (Si) content on the corrosion behavior and radiation-induced embrittlement of martensitic stainless steels having chemical compositions similar to that of the modified 9Cr-1Mo steel. Recent studies at LANL involving Alloy EP-823 of different Si content have demonstrated that increased Si content in this alloy may enhance the corrosion resistance in molten lead-bismutheutectic (LBE). Since very little data exists in the open literature on the beneficial effect of Si …

Use Of Positron Annihilation Spectroscopy For Stress-Strain Measurements: Quarterly Progress Report (September 01 – November 30, 2004), Ajit K. Roy

Transmutation Sciences Materials (TRP)

Accomplishments:

● A technical paper titled “Residual Stress Characterization in Structural Materials by Destructive and Nondestructive Techniques” has been accepted for publication in the Journal of Materials Engineering and Performance, ASM International, Ohio.

● The PAS method has been applied to develop calibration curves for line shape parameters (S and T) using unstressed and stressed (different magnitude) tensile specimens of martensitic stainless steels. These curves will enable the determination of residual stresses in plastically-deformed materials once the magnitude of S or T parameter is determined by the PAS technique.

● The tensile and welded specimens have been irradiated by low …

Modeling, Fabrication, And Optimization Of Niobium Cavities: Phase Iii, Third Quarterly Report, Robert A. Schill Jr., Mohamed Trabia, William Culbreth

Transmutation Sciences Materials (TRP)

This quarterly report provides an update to the last phase of the Modeling, Fabrication, and Optimization of Niobium Cavities in the no-cost extension period. Designing the experimental setup of secondary electron emission was well underway in early summer of 2003 when funding was made available for this portion the study. By March 2004, many of the components of the experimental study reached UNLV with some assembly accomplished. The first secondary electron emission (SEE) measurement was made from the surface of a Faraday cup in September 2004. In December of 2005, the software for the particle positioning detector was finally up …

Development Of A Systems Engineering Model Of The Chemical Separations Process, Yitung Chen, Darrell Pepper, Sean Hsieh

Separations Campaign (TRP)

The chemical processing of used nuclear fuel is an integral component of any strategy for the transmutation of nuclear waste. Due to the large volume of material that must be handled in this first step of the transmutation process, the efficiency of the separations process is a key factor in the potential economic viability of transmutation strategies. The ability to optimize the chemical separation systems is vital to ensure the feasibility of the transmutation program.

Systems analysis, or total systems modeling, is one of the strongest tools available to researchers for understanding and optimizing complex systems such as chemical separations …

Nuclear Criticality, Shielding, And Thermal Analyses Of Separations Processes For The Transmutation Fuel Cycle, William Culbreth, Denis Beller

Separations Campaign (TRP)

The first step in any transmutation strategy is the separation of radionuclides in used nuclear fuel. The current separation strategy supporting the Advanced Fuel Cycle Initiative (AFCI) program is based on the use of a solvent extraction separation process to separate the actinides, fission products, and uranium from used commercial nuclear fuel, and on the use of pyrochemical separation technologies to process used transmuter fuels. To separate the fission products and transuranic elements from the uranium in used fuel, the national program is developing a new solvent extraction process, the Uranium Extraction Plus, or UREX+, process based on the traditional …

Development Of Integrated Process Simulation System Model For Spent Fuel Treatment Facility (Sftf) Design, Yitung Chen, Sean Hsieh

Separations Campaign (TRP)

The major objective is to create a framework that combines all the strengths of AMUSE’s complicated calculations, well established commercial system process package such as ASPENPLUS, HYSYS and PRO/II and TRPSEMPro’s flexible parameter optimization modules. Development of the process simulation code can be done using the solvent extraction process experience at Argonne National Laboratory and in collaboration with the NCACM.

The major activities of the task are the following:

• Develop a framework for simulating the SFTF process using AMUSE code, commercial process package, such as ASPEN- PLUS, and system engineering model.
• Develop a middleware package that can communicate between the …

Neutron Multiplicity Measurements Of Target/Blanket Materials, Denis Beller

Transmutation Sciences Physics (TRP)

To optimize the performance of accelerator-driven sub-critical (ADS) transmutation systems, engineers will need to design the system to operate with a neutron multiplication factor just less than that of a critical, or self-sustaining, system. This design criterion requires particle transport codes that instill the highest level of confidence with minimal uncertainty, because larger uncertainties in the codes require larger safety margins in the design and result in a lower efficiency of the ADS transmuter. For current design efforts in the U.S., a Monte Carlo particle transport code MCNPX is used to model neutron production and transport for spallation neutron systems. …

Reactor Physics Studies For The Afci Reactor-Accelerator Coupling Experiments (Race) Project, Denis Beller

Transmutation Sciences Physics (TRP)

The specific research objective of this three-year project is to design and conduct an accelerator driven experiment at one of the Texas universities. This experiment will help demonstrate in the U.S. the ability to design, compute, and conduct ADSS experiments; and to predict and measure source importance, coupling efficiency, sub-critical reactor kinetics and source-driven transients. In addition, both steady state and transient ADSS benchmarks will be created for the nuclear community to develop and test new computational codes and methods, and the importance of a driving neutron source in various regions of different subcritical assemblies will be mapped. Experiments will …

Modeling, Fabrication, And Optimization Of Niobium Cavities, Robert A. Schill Jr., Mohamed Trabia, William Culbreth

Transmutation Sciences Materials (TRP)

One of the key technologies for the deployment of accelerator driven transmutation systems is the accelerator itself. Elliptical superconducting niobium cavities are used to increase the efficiency of the high-power accelerators needed to support the transmutation mission.

One of the major sources of energy loss from a superconducting accelerator cavity is a process known as multiple impacting (or “multipacting”) of electrons. This phenomenon limits the maximum amount of energy and power that the niobium cavity can store. As a result, the maximum power available for accelerating the desired charge, as well as the overall performance of the accelerator is reduced. …

Corrosion Of Steel By Lead Bismuth Eutectic, John Farley, Allen L. Johnson, Dale L. Perry

Transmutation Sciences Materials (TRP)

There is an active international interest in lead-bismuth eutectic and similar liquid lead systems because of the relevance to the transmutation of nuclear waste, fast reactors, and spallation neutron sources.

Materials in these systems must be able to tolerate high neutron fluxes, high temperatures, and chemical corrosion. For lead bismuth eutectic (LBE) systems, there is an additional challenge because the corrosive behaviors of materials in LBE are not well understood. Most of the available information on LBE systems has come from the Russians, who have over 80 reactor-years experience with LBE coolant in their Alpha-class submarine reactors. The Russians found …