Time-exposed photograph of the steam explosion of a 9-mm drop of molten silicon.

Liquid Metal Safety

The alkali metals have a long history of use in nuclear power reactor design. Fusion reactor designs often use lithium for the dual purpose of coolant and tritium breeder. Lithium has excellent heat transfer characteristics and can be easily pumped with either conventional or electromagnetic pumps. Since lithium is chemically reactive with both water and air special consideration must be given to potential lithium interactions in reactor safety analysis for given abnormal events. Computer models have been developed which aid in this analysis; experiments investigate the behavior of molten alloy contact with water.

Publications

15 publications found    » search for others     [linked reports are PDF]

UWFDM-1288    Steam Explosions of Single Drops of Molten Silicon-Rich Alloys; L.S. Nelson, P.W. Brooks, R. Bonazza, M.L. Corradini, K. Hildal, T.H. Bergstrom, December 2005 [Proceedings of the Ninth International Ferroalloys Congress (INFACON 9), Quebec City, June 3-6, 2001, pp. 338-351. Published by the Ferroalloys Association, Washington, DC].

UWFDM-1230    The Release of Drops of Molten Ferrosilicon and Silicon into Water: Pressure Transients Generated During Triggered Steam Explosions; L.S. Nelson, P.W. Brooks, R. Bonazza, M.L. Corradini, K. Hildal, November 2004.

UWFDM-1229    The Quenching and Steam Explosions of Drops of Molten Silicon Released into Water; L.S. Nelson, P.W. Brooks, R. Bonazza, M.L. Corradini, K. Hildal, November 2004.

UWFDM-1228    Triggered Steam Explosions of Molten Ferrosilicon Drops: Behavior of Solenoid-Driven and Pneumatic Impactors, Ability to Trigger the Explosions at Various Water Depths, Energetics of the Explosions, Fall Histories, Colloidal Material Deposited During the Explosions; L.S. Nelson, P.W. Brooks, R. Bonazza, M.L. Corradini, K. Hildal, November 2004.

UWFDM-1224    Steam Explosions of Molten Ferrosilicon Drops Released into Water: Effects of Triggering, Alloying and Water Temperature; L.S. Nelson, P.W. Brooks, R. Bonazza, M.L. Corradini, February 2004.

UWFDM-1212    Studies of Metal Combustion; Lloyd S. Nelson, Paul W. Brooks, Riccardo Bonazza and Michael L. Corradini, March 2002.

UWFDM-1211    Studies of Metal Combustion; Lloyd S. Nelson, Bradley J. Motl, J.H. Kleinlugtenbelt, Paul W. Brooks, Riccardo Bonazza and Michael L. Corradini, June 2003.

UWFDM-1186    Quenching 10-20 mm Diameter Drops of Molten Ferrosilicon in Water and on Solids; L.S. Nelson, R. Bonazza, P.W. Brooks, M.L. Corradini, December 2003.

UWFDM-1138    Analysis of Liquid Cryogen-Water Experiments with the MELCOR Code; R.C. Duckworth, J.G. Murphy, T.T. Utschig, M.L. Corradini, B.J. Merrill, R.L. Moore, October 2000 [presented at the 14th Topical Meeting on the Technology of Fusion Energy, October 15-19, 2000, Park City UT].

UWFDM-1101    Computer Modeling for Lithium Safety in Fusion Systems: LINT and MELCOR; T.T. Utschig and M.L. Corradini, June 1999.

UWFDM-1031    The Behavior of Molten Pb and 83 a/o Pb-17 a/o Li When Impacted by a Vertical Column of Water; L.S. Nelson, A. Farahani, J.D. Krueger, M.L. Corradini, July 1996.

UWFDM-1027    Formation of 10-20 mm Drops of Molten Ferrosilicon; L.S. Nelson, R. Bonazza, M.L. Corradini, June 1996.

UWFDM-998    Addition of Ga, Pb, and Li-Pb Materials to MELCOR Computer Model and Associated Enhancements; Eric Gracyalny, November 1995.

UWFDM-971    Preparation of Kilogram Quantities of the 83 a/o Lead - 17 a/o Lithium Eutectic Alloy; L.S. Nelson, J.D. Krueger, M.L. Corradini, June 1995.

UWFDM-960    Interactions Between an Organic Coolant and Drops of Molten Lithium; L.S. Nelson, J.D. Krueger, M.L. Corradini, June 1994.