R&D AND IRRADIATION PLANS FOR NEW NUCLEAR GRADE GRAPHITES FOR APPLICATION TO VHTR

• Published in: Ceramic Engineering and Science Proceedings Vol. 32; no. 3; pp. 13 - 19
• Main Authors: Takizawa, K, Kakehashi, K, Fukuda, T, Kida, T, Sawa, K, Sumita, J, Katoh, Y, Snead, L L
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.01.2011
• Subjects: Ceramics; Graphite; Nuclear engineering; Nuclear power generation; Nuclear reactor components; Nuclear reactors; Quality; Service life
• ISBN: 9781118059944; 1118059948
• ISSN: 0196-6219

Fine-grained isotropic graphite shows high strength, making it a promising material for the graphite component of high temperature gas-cooled reactors (HTGR) and very high temperature reactors (VHTR). The service life of graphite components is determined primarily by the residual stress after neutron irradiation in the reactor core. It is expected that the development of new fine-grained isotropic nuclear grade graphite possessing higher strength will contribute towards added design margins and an extension of the service life of components, which is likely to improve the reactor economy very significantly. Tokai Carbon has started to develop nuclear grade graphite with high strength for the graphite component of the VHTR. Its evaluation based on Japanese draft standard for the HTGR is advanced. The standard demands: guaranteeing a stable supply for long periods; obtaining design data; and confirming stable features under high temperature and irradiation conditions. Progress to date is reported.