Home Investigation of Li–Be and B halides as blanket in future fusion molten salt reactor
Article
Licensed
Unlicensed Requires Authentication

Investigation of Li–Be and B halides as blanket in future fusion molten salt reactor

  • Ercan Yıldız ORCID logo EMAIL logo and Hüsnü Aksakal ORCID logo
Published/Copyright: February 29, 2024
Become an author with De Gruyter Brill

Abstract

FLIBE (LiF–BeF2) is both a nuclear reactor coolant and a solvent for fertile or fissile materials. FLIBE can also dissolve a variety of fissile and fertile materials such as uranium, thorium and plutonium and has the ability to serve as liquid fuel for molten salt reactors (MSRs). It’s very high thermal capacity and chemical stability are among its other valuable properties. In addition, the low atomic weights of lithium, beryllium and to a lesser extent fluorine make FLIBE an effective neutron moderator. In this study, cross-section values were determined by using various level density models (constant temperature + Fermi gas, back-shifted Fermi gas, generalized superfluid, microscopic level density models) for reactions of 19F(n, α)16N, 19F(n, p)19O, 35Cl(n, α)32P, 35Cl(n, p)35S and 79Br(n, α)76As, 79Br(n, p)79Se, 127I(n, α)124Sb, 127I(n, p)127Te using TALYS 1.95 code and these datas are compared with the values in the EXFOR database.


Corresponding author: Ercan Yıldız, Vocational School of Health Services, Kahramanmaraş, Sütçü Imam University, Kahramanmaraş, Türkiye, E-mail:

  1. Research ethics: Not applicable.

  2. Author contributions: E. Yildiz and H. Aksakal both wrote the manuscript text and used the simulation codes to obtain presented results. All the authors reviewed the manuscript.

  3. Competing interests: The authors state no conflict of interest.

  4. Research funding: None declared.

  5. Data availability: All of the data generated or analysed during this study are included in this article. In case, they can also be made available by the corresponding author on reasonable request.

References

Aksakal, H. and Yıldız, E. (2023). Lithium–lithium fusion evaporation research. Kerntechnik 88: 231–239, https://doi.org/10.1515/kern-2022-0104.Search in Google Scholar

Bass, R., Haug, P., Kruger, K., and Staginuus, B. (1966). Fast neutron excitation functions by activation techniques. Report from Euratom-countries + Euratom to EANDC 66, p. 64.Search in Google Scholar

Batchelder, J.C., Chong, S.A., Morrell, J., Ayllon Unzueta, M., Adams, P., Bauer, J.D., Bailey, T., Becker, T.A., Bernstein, L.A., Fratoni, M., et al.. (2019). Possible evidence of nonstatistical properties in the 35Cl(n, p)35S cross section. Phys. Rev. C 99: 044612–044614, https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevC.99.044612.Search in Google Scholar

Bondarenko, I.P., Khryachkov, V.A., Ivanova, T.A., Kuzminov, B.D., Semenova, N.N., and Sergachev, A.I. (2013). Investigation of the 19F(n, α)16N reaction excitation function in neutron energy range of 4–7.35 MeV. Bull. Russ. Acad. Sci. Phys. 77: 459–461, https://doi.org/10.3103/S1062873813040060.Search in Google Scholar

Buchner, M.R., Thomas-Hargreaves, L.R., Kreuzer, L.K., Spang, N., and Ivlev, S.I. (2021). Dimethylsulfide adducts of the beryllium halides. Eur. J. Inorg. Chem. 2021: 4990–4997, https://doi.org/10.1002/ejic.202100812.Search in Google Scholar

Cadwallader, L.C. (2001). Qualitative reliability issues for in-vessel solid and liquid wall fusion designs. Fusion Technol. 39: 991–995, https://doi.org./10.13182/fst01-a11963371.10.13182/FST01-A11963371Search in Google Scholar

Catalán, J., Ogando, F., Sanz, J., Palermo, I., Veredas, G., Gómez-Ros, J., and Sedano, L. (2011). Neutronic analysis of a dual He/LiPb coolant breeding blanket for DEMO. Fusion Eng. Des. 86: 2293–2296, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fusengdes.2011.03.030.Search in Google Scholar

Cinotti, L., Smith, C.F., Artioli, C., Grasso, G., and Corsini, G. (2010). Lead-cooled fast reactor (LFR) design: safety, neutronics, thermal hydraulics, structural mechanics, fuel, core, and plant design. In: Handbook of nuclear engineering. Springer Science+Business Media LLC 2010, Boston, MA, pp. 2749–2840.10.1007/978-0-387-98149-9_23Search in Google Scholar

De Oliviera, G.A.C., Bustillos, J.O.V., Ferreira, J.C., Bergamaschi, V.S., De Moraes, R.M., Gimenez, M.P., Miyamoto, F.K., and Seneda, J.A. (2017) Applications of Lithium in nuclear energy. In: 2017 international nuclear atlantic conference - INAC 2017, Belo Horizonte, pp. 22–27.Search in Google Scholar

Dilg, W., Schantl, W., Vonach, H., and Uhl, M. (1973). Level density parameters for the back-shifted fermi gas model in the mass range 40<A<250. Nucl. Phys. Sect. A 217: 269–298, https://doi.org/10.1016/0375-9474(73)90196-6.Search in Google Scholar

EXFOR/CSISRS. EXFOR, (National Nuclear Data Center, Brookhaven National Laboratory, 2018); Available at: www-nds.iaea.org/exfor/.Search in Google Scholar

Forsberg, C., Zheng, G., Ballinger, R.G., and Lam, S.T. (2020). Fusion blankets and fluoride-salt-cooled high-temperature reactors with flibe salt coolant: common challenges, tritium control, and opportunities for synergistic development strategies between fission, fusion, and solar salt technologies. Nucl. Technol. 206: 1778–1801, https://doi.org/10.1080/00295450.2019.1691400.Search in Google Scholar

Furuta, M., Shimizu, T., Hayashi, H., Miyazaki, I., Yamamoto, H., Shibata, M., and Kawade, K. (2008). Measurements of activation cross sections of (n, p) and (n, α) reactions in the energy range of 3.5–5.9 MeV using a deuterium gas target. Ann. Nucl. Energy 35: 1652–1662, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anucene.2008.02.010.Search in Google Scholar

Gilbert, A. and Cameron, A.G.W. (1965). A composite nuclear-level density formula with shell corrections. Can. J. Phys. 43: 1446–1496, https://doi.org/10.1139/p65-139.Search in Google Scholar

Goriely, S., Hilaire, S., and Koning, A.J. (2008). Improved microscopic nuclear level densities within the Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov plus combinatorial method. Phys. Rev. C. Nucl. Phys. 78: 1–14, https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevC.78.064307.Search in Google Scholar

IAEA (2006). Handbook for calculations of nuclear reaction data, RIPL-2. International Atomic energy Agency, IAEA-TECDOC-1506, Available at: https://www-nds.iaea.org/RIPL-2/.Search in Google Scholar

Ignatyuk, A.V., Istekov, K.K., and Smirenkin, G.N. (1979). The role of collective effects in the systematics of nuclear level densities. Sov. J. Nucl. Phys. 29: 875–883.Search in Google Scholar

Kasugai, Y., Yamamoto, H., Kawade, K., and Iida, T. (1998). Measurement of (n, p) cross-sections for shortlived products by 13.4-14.9 MeV neutrons. Ann. Nucl. Energy 25: 23–45, https://doi.org/10.1016/S0306-4549(97)00040-6.Search in Google Scholar

Koning, A.J. and Rochman, D. (2012). Modern nuclear data evaluation with the TALYS code system. Nucl. Data Sheets 113: 2841–2934, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nds.2012.11.002.Search in Google Scholar

Levkovskii, V.N., Vinitskaya, G.P., Kovelskaya, G.E., and Stepanov, V.M. (1970). Cross sections for (n, p) and (n, alpha) reactions with 14.8-MeV neutrons. Sov. J. Nucl. Phys. 10: 25.Search in Google Scholar

Luo, J., Jiang, L., and Wang, X. (2018). Activation cross section and isomeric cross section ratio for the 76Ge(n, 2n)75m,gGe process. Eur. Phys. J. A 54: 67–74, https://doi.org/10.1140/epja/i2018-12501-y.Search in Google Scholar

Mavaddat, T., Rao, S.A., and Kuroda, P.K. (1974). 14.8 MeV neutron-induced (n, p) cross-sections in the region of the proton magic number 50. J. Inorg. Nucl. Chem. 36: 953–957, https://doi.org/10.1016/0022-1902(74)80196-X.Search in Google Scholar

Meija, J., Coplen, T.B., Berglund, M., Brand, W.A., De Bièvre, P., Gröning, M., Holden, N.E., Irrgeher, J., Loss, R.D., Walczyk, T., et al.. (2016). Atomic weights of the elements 2013 (IUPAC technical report). Pure Appl. Chem. 88: 265–291, https://doi.org/10.1515/pac-2015-0305.Search in Google Scholar

Özdoğan, H., Şekerci, M., Sarpün, H., and Kaplan, A. (2018). Investigation of level density parameter effects on (p, and (p, 2n) reaction cross-sections for the fusion structural materials 48Ti, 63Cu and 90Zr. Appl. Radiat. Isot. 140: 29–34, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apradiso.2018.06.013.Search in Google Scholar PubMed

Özdoğan, H., Üncü, Y.A., Şekerci, M., and Kaplan, A. (2021). Estimations of level density parameters by using artificial neural network for phenomenological level density models. Appl. Radiat. Isot. 169: 109583–109595, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apradiso.2020.109583.Search in Google Scholar PubMed

Picard, J. and Williamson, C.E. (1965). The (n, p), (n, α) and (n, 2n) cross sections for F19 and Na29 between 13 and 21 MeV. Nucl. Phys. 63: 673–684, https://doi.org/10.1016/0029-5582(65)90754-6.Search in Google Scholar

Reyhancan, I.A. (2003). Measurements and statistical model calculations of activation cross sections for 19F(n, p)19O reaction between 13.6 and 14.9 MeV neutron energies. Ann. Nucl. Energy 30: 1001–1007, https://doi.org/10.1016/S0306-4549(03)00010-0.Search in Google Scholar

Şahin, H.M. and Karakoç, A. (2020). Investigation of the effect using different coolant on the performance of a Tokamak fusion reactor blanket. Turk. J. Nucl. Sci. 32: 59–72.Search in Google Scholar

Sansarbayar, E., Gledenov, Yu. M., Chuprakov, I., Khuukhenkhuu, G., Ahmadov, G.S., Krupa, L., Zhang, G., Jiang, H., Cui, Z., Hu, Y., et al.. (2021). Cross sections for the 35Cl(n, alpha)32P reaction in the 3.3–5.3 MeV neutron energy region. Phys. Rev. C 104: 044620, https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevC.104.044620.Search in Google Scholar

Sato, J., Saito, N., and Yokoyama, Y. (1971). Cross sections of 79Br(n, α)76As, 81Br(n, α)78As and 68Zn(n, α)yNi reactions induced by 13.6–14.8 MeV neutrons. Radiochim. Acta 16: 71–74, https://doi.org/10.1524/ract.1971.16.2.71.Search in Google Scholar

Sekerci, M. (2019). Investigation of the effects of level density models in production cross section calculations of some medical radioisotopes with (α, xn) reactions. J. Inst. Sci. Technol. 9: 2035–2047, https://doi.org/10.21597/jist.541463.Search in Google Scholar

Sekerci, M., Özdoǧan, H., and Kaplan, A. (2020). Level density model effects on the production cross-section calculations of some medical isotopes via (α, xn) reactions where x = 1–3. Mod. Phys. Lett. A 35: 2050202–2050215, https://doi.org/10.1142/S0217732320502028.Search in Google Scholar

Sircar, A., Whan, J., Badalassi, V., and Peterson, E. (2021) Multiphysics simulations for fusion reactor blankets. In: Conference: 2021 ANS winter meeting and technology expo, Available at: https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1866703.Search in Google Scholar

Smith, D.L., Meadows, J.W., and Whalen, J.F. (1981). Cross sections for 19F(n, p)19O and 19F(n, α)16N from threshold to 9 MeV. Nucl. Sci. Eng. 77: 256–262, https://doi.org/10.13182/NSE81-A21359.Search in Google Scholar

Übeyli, M. (2003). On the tritium breeding capability of Flibe, Flinabe, and Li20Sn80 in a fusion-fission (Hybrid) reactor. J. Fusion Energy 22: 51–57, https://doi.org/10.1023/b:jofe.0000021555.70423.f1.10.1023/B:JOFE.0000021555.70423.f1Search in Google Scholar

Wang, J., Deng, M., Chen, Y., Liu, X., Ke, W., Li, D., Dai, W., and He, K. (2020). Structural, elastic, electronic and optical properties of lithium halides (LiF, LiCl, LiBr, and LiI): first-principle calculations. Mater. Chem. Phys. 244: 122733, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matchemphys.2020.122733.Search in Google Scholar

Yiğit, M. and Tel, E. (2014). Theoretical study of deuteron induced reactions on 6,7Li, 9Be and 19F targets. Kerntechnik 79: 63–69, https://doi.org/10.3139/124.110394.Search in Google Scholar

Ying, D., Yang, H., Lyu, H., Tan, Y., Jing, F., Li, L., Xiao, F., Liu, J., Zhang, H., Yang, J., et al.. (2019). Activation of FLiBe coolant in the molten salt reactor. Ann. Nucl. Energy 129: 62–66, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anucene.2019.01.038.Search in Google Scholar

Received: 2023-10-13
Accepted: 2024-02-08
Published Online: 2024-02-29
Published in Print: 2024-06-25

© 2024 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston

Articles in the same Issue

  1. Frontmatter
  2. Numerical study on the effect of the PI-controller type on the quasi-steady reactor pressure in MAAP 5.04 code
  3. Analyses of the unavailability dynamics of emergency core cooling system
  4. Study on spent fuel heatup during spent fuel pool complete loss of coolant accident
  5. Numerical simulation analysis of high-temperature bent sodium heat pipes
  6. Influence of the twisting and nano fluids on performance of a triangular double tube heat exchanger
  7. Neutronic simulation of Traveling Wave Reactor (TWR) core in multi-cycles using Monte Carlo method
  8. Gain scheduled internal model control based on the dynamic sliding mode method for the water level of nuclear steam generators
  9. Verification and validation optimization method for signal quality bits in digital control system application software of nuclear power plant
  10. Investigation of Li–Be and B halides as blanket in future fusion molten salt reactor
  11. A study on porosity investigation of compacted bentonite in various densities by using micro-computed tomography images analysis
  12. CTAB modification bentonite for enhanced Re adsorption and diffusion suppression
  13. Study on advection–dispersion behavior for simulation of 3H, 99Tc, and 90Sr transport in crushed sandstone of column experiments
  14. Investigating advection–dispersion behavior for simulation of HTO and 238Pu transport in argillaceous shale with different varying degrees of weathering
  15. Study on analysing the potential benefits of utilizing nuclear waste for biodiesel production
  16. Calendar of events
Downloaded on 27.9.2025 from https://www.degruyterbrill.com/document/doi/10.1515/kern-2023-0109/html
Scroll to top button