Fast Reactors and Accelerator Driven Systems Knowledge Base

Conference Article: Design criteria and mitigation options for thermal fatigue effects in ATW blankets

F.E. Dunn

Abstract

Thermal fatigue due to beam interruptions is an issue that must be addressed in the design of an ATW blanket. Two different approaches can be taken to address this issue. One approach is to analyze current ATW blanket designs in order to set interrupt frequency design limits for the accelerator. The other approach is to assume that accelerator reliability can not be guaranteed before design and construction of the blanket. In this approach the blanket must be designed so as to accommodate an accelerator with a beam interruption frequency significantly higher than current high power accelerators in order to provide a margin of error. Both approaches are considered in this paper. Both a sodium cooled blanket design and a lead-bismuth cooled blanket design are considered. Thermal hydraulic analysis of the blanket for beam interruption transients is carried out with the SASSYS-1 systems analysis code to obtain the time histories of the coolant temperatures in contact with structural components. These coolant temperatures are then used in a detailed structure temperature calculation to obtain structure surface and structure average temperatures. The difference between the average temperature and the surface temperature is used to obtain thermal strains. Low cycle fatigue curves from the American Society of Mechanical Engineers Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code are used to determine the number of cycles that the structural components can endure, based on these strains. Calculations are made for base case designs and for a number of mitigation options. The mitigation options include using two separate accelerators to provide the beam, reducing the thickness of the above core load pads in the subassemblies, increasing the coolant flow rate or reducing power in order to reduce the core temperature rise, and reducing the superheat in the once-through steam generator.

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key words: Fast Neutron Spectrum Systems, Nuclear Technology
Reference:
Proceedings of a Committee Meeting (TCM) on “Core Physics and Engineering Aspects of Emerging Nuclear Energy Systems for Energy Generation and Transmutation” held in Argonne, Illinois, U.S.A., 28 November - 1 December 2000
International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna (Austria)
IAEA-TECDOC--1356, pp:240-250