Neutron and gamma radiation effects on thermal storage properties of polyethylene wax

IF 3.3 3区工程技术 Q1 NUCLEAR SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY Progress in Nuclear Energy Pub Date : 2024-10-18 DOI:10.1016/j.pnucene.2024.105491

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Abstract

Several nuclear reactors use ice condensers to condense steam in the case of a loss of coolant accident. These ice condensers have many problems that could be alleviated by using another material. The effects of low-dose neutron and gamma radiation on the thermal properties of polyethylene wax (PEW) were investigated for this purpose. PEW was irradiated in the Missouri University of Science and Technology Research Reactor (MSTR), the University of Missouri Cyclotron (MUC) and the University of Missouri Research Reactor (MURR) up to doses equivalent to 10 months in a nuclear power reactor's containment structure. The melting temperature and latent heat of fusion were determined using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Changes in the molecular bonds was determined using Raman spectroscopy. It was found that there was not a significant change in the thermal properties nor bonding over the investigated doses. This suggests that organic PCMs could be reliable alternatives to ice in nuclear reactor containment applications. The measured melting peak was found to be significantly wider expected by the suppliers' description. The ramifications of wide melting peaks are discussed in the context of reactor accident analysis and further experiments are suggested.

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中子和伽马辐射对聚乙烯蜡蓄热性能的影响

一些核反应堆使用冰冷凝器在发生冷却剂损失事故时冷凝蒸汽。这些冰冷凝器存在许多问题，使用其他材料可以缓解这些问题。为此，我们研究了低剂量中子和伽马辐射对聚乙烯蜡（PEW）热性能的影响。在密苏里科技大学研究反应堆（MSTR）、密苏里大学回旋加速器（MUC）和密苏里大学研究反应堆（MURR）中对聚乙烯蜡进行了辐照，辐照剂量相当于核电反应堆安全壳结构中 10 个月的剂量。使用差示扫描量热法（DSC）测定了熔化温度和聚变潜热。使用拉曼光谱测定了分子键的变化。结果发现，在所调查的剂量范围内，热性能和键合情况都没有发生显著变化。这表明，在核反应堆安全壳应用中，有机 PCM 可以成为冰的可靠替代品。根据供应商的描述，测得的熔化峰明显比预期的要宽。在反应堆事故分析的背景下讨论了宽熔峰的影响，并提出了进一步实验的建议。

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来源期刊

Progress in Nuclear Energy 工程技术-核科学技术

CiteScore

5.30

自引率

14.80%

发文量

331

审稿时长

3.5 months

期刊介绍： Progress in Nuclear Energy is an international review journal covering all aspects of nuclear science and engineering. In keeping with the maturity of nuclear power, articles on safety, siting and environmental problems are encouraged, as are those associated with economics and fuel management. However, basic physics and engineering will remain an important aspect of the editorial policy. Articles published are either of a review nature or present new material in more depth. They are aimed at researchers and technically-oriented managers working in the nuclear energy field. Please note the following: 1) PNE seeks high quality research papers which are medium to long in length. Short research papers should be submitted to the journal Annals in Nuclear Energy. 2) PNE reserves the right to reject papers which are based solely on routine application of computer codes used to produce reactor designs or explain existing reactor phenomena. Such papers, although worthy, are best left as laboratory reports whereas Progress in Nuclear Energy seeks papers of originality, which are archival in nature, in the fields of mathematical and experimental nuclear technology, including fission, fusion (blanket physics, radiation damage), safety, materials aspects, economics, etc. 3) Review papers, which may occasionally be invited, are particularly sought by the journal in these fields.