CX-020916: Development of Versatile Liquid Metal Testing Facility for Lead-cooled Fast Reactor Technology – University of Pittsburgh

The University of Pittsburgh, in collaboration with Westinghouse Electric Company (WEC), Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Energia Nuclear ed Energie Alternative (ENEA), and the University of Manchester (UoM), proposes to 1) develop a versatile liquid lead testing facility, and 2) experimentally test material corrosion behavior and ultrasound imaging technology in liquid lead with the aid of computational simulations. This project will support deployment of lead cooled fast reactor (LFR) technology by studying erosion/corrosion at a temperature range applicable to the reactor design and demonstrating liquid lead chemistry control and ultrasonic under-lead viewing equipment. Samples of materials will be placed into the lead pool to examine the overall corrosion mechanism of the structural metals and the effect of the coolant chemistry and flow conditions on the materials’ integrity up to 750ºC. The project will construct a new, pool-type liquid lead test facility at the University of Pittsburgh and test existing under-sodium viewing equipment from ANL to determine applicability to liquid lead environment.