Preliminary experimental study of liquid lithium water interaction

• Published in: Fusion engineering and design Vol. 98-99; pp. 2116 - 2119
• Main Authors: You, X.M., Tong, L.L., Cao, X.W.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.10.2015
• Subjects: Devices; Droplets; Explosions; Liquid lithium; Lithium; Loss of coolant accident; Materials selection; Plasma facing component; Safety; Water coolant; Liquid lithium; Safety; Plasma facing component; Water coolant
• ISSN: 0920-3796; 1873-7196
• DOI: 10.1016/j.fusengdes.2015.02.057

•Explosive reaction occurs when lithium temperature is over 300°C.•The violence of liquid lithium water interaction increases with the initial temperature of liquid lithium.•The interaction is suppressed when the initial water temperature is above 70°C.•Steam explosion is not ignorable in the risk assessment of liquid lithium water interaction.•Explosion strength of liquid lithium water interaction is evaluated by explosive yield. Liquid lithium is the best candidate for a material with low Z and low activation, and is one of the important choices for plasma facing materials in magnetic fusion devices. However, liquid lithium reacts violently with water under the conditions of loss of coolant accidents. The release of large heats and hydrogen could result in the dramatic increase of temperature and pressure. The lithium–water explosion has large effect on the safety of fusion devices, which is an important content for the safety assessment of fusion devices. As a preliminary investigation of liquid lithium water interaction, the test facility has been built and experiments have been conducted under different conditions. The initial temperature of lithium droplet ranged from 200°C to 600°C and water temperature was varied between 20°C and 90°C. Lithium droplets were released into the test section with excess water. The shape of lithium droplet and steam generated around the lithium were observed by the high speed camera. At the same time, the pressure and temperature in the test section were recorded during the violent interactions. The preliminary experimental results indicate that the initial temperature of lithium and water has an effect on the violence of liquid lithium water interaction.