Lead–lithium eutectic material database for nuclear fusion technology

• Published in: Journal of nuclear materials Vol. 376; no. 3; pp. 353 - 357
• Main Authors: Mas de les Valls, E., Sedano, L.A., Batet, L., Ricapito, I., Aiello, A., Gastaldi, O., Gabriel, F.
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 15.06.2008; Elsevier
• Subjects: 28.52; 52.55; Applied sciences; Controled nuclear fusion plants; Energy; Energy. Thermal use of fuels; Exact sciences and technology; Fission nuclear power plants; Fuels; Installations for energy generation and conversion: thermal and electrical energy; Nuclear fuels; 66; 52.55; 28.52; Magnetohydrodynamics; Transport properties; Breeder; Expert system; Lithium; Physical properties; Dispersion; Research and development; Nuclear reactor; Thermal properties; Nuclear fusion reactor; Eutectic; Database; Reactor material; Isotopes
• ISSN: 0022-3115; 1873-4820
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jnucmat.2008.02.016

Fully validated material databases are needed for coherent technological developments in any R&D field. For nuclear fusion technology (NFT), within a near-term perspective of qualification and licensing of nuclear components and systems, this goal is both compulsory and urgent. This mandatory requirement applies for the particular case of the Pb–Li eutectic database as fusion reactor material. Pb16Li is today a reference breeder material in diverse fusion R&D programs worldwide. Technical consensus on most part of the material database inputs seems a major technological objective. In this work Pb16Li material database inputs for NFT have been systematically reviewed. Database inputs (bulk, thermal, physical-chemistry properties, and H-isotopes transport) are discussed and extended to base magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) properties, values for non-dimensional parameters and pipe/channel correlations in 2-phases dispersion models. Ongoing efforts to develop the Pb16Li material database as a computing expert system are reported.