Materials Challenges in Nuclear Energy
TL;DR: In this article, the three major materials challenges for the current and next generation of water-cooled fission reactors are centered on two structural materials aging degradation issues (corrosion and stress corrosion cracking of structural materials and neutron-induced embrittlement of reactor pressure vessels), along with improved fuel system reliability and accident tolerance issues.
About: This article is published in Acta Materialia.The article was published on 2013-02-01. It has received 1633 citations till now. The article focuses on the topics: Nuclear power & Corrosion.
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TL;DR: In this article, three general strategies for accident tolerant fuels are explored: modification of current state-of-the-art zirconium alloy cladding to further improve oxidation resistance (including use of coatings), replacement of Zr Alloy cladding with an alternative oxidation resistant high-performance cladding, and replacement of the monolithic ceramic oxide fuel with alternative fuel forms.
695 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors focus on major novel strategies to achieve high-performance thermoelectric (TE) materials and their applications, and present a review of these strategies.
Abstract: Thermoelectric (TE) materials have the capability of converting heat into electricity, which can improve fuel efficiency, as well as providing robust alternative energy supply in multiple applications by collecting wasted heat, and therefore, assisting in finding new energy solutions. In order to construct high performance TE devices, superior TE materials have to be targeted via various strategies. The development of high performance TE devices can broaden the market of TE application and eventually boost the enthusiasm of TE material research. This review focuses on major novel strategies to achieve high-performance TE materials and their applications. Manipulating the carrier concentration and band structures of materials are effective in optimizing the electrical transport properties, while nanostructure engineering and defect engineering can greatly reduce the thermal conductivity approaching the amorphous limit. Currently, TE devices are utilized to generate power in remote missions, solar-thermal systems, implantable or/wearable devices, the automotive industry, and many other fields; they are also serving as temperature sensors and controllers or even gas sensors. The future tendency is to synergistically optimize and integrate all the effective factors to further improve the TE performance, so that highly efficient TE materials and devices can be more beneficial to daily lives.
563 citations
TL;DR: In this article, three fundamental options for designing radiation resistance are outlined: Utilize matrix phases with inherent radiation tolerance, select materials in which vacancies are immobile at the design operating temperatures, or engineer materials with high sink densities for point defect recombination.
Abstract: Proposed fusion and advanced (Generation IV) fission energy systems require high-performance materials capable of satisfactory operation up to neutron damage levels approaching 200 atomic displacements per atom with large amounts of transmutant hydrogen and helium isotopes. After a brief overview of fusion reactor concepts and radiation effects phenomena in structural and functional (nonstructural) materials, three fundamental options for designing radiation resistance are outlined: Utilize matrix phases with inherent radiation tolerance, select materials in which vacancies are immobile at the design operating temperatures, or engineer materials with high sink densities for point defect recombination. Environmental and safety considerations impose several additional restrictions on potential materials systems, but reduced-activation ferritic/martensitic steels (including thermomechanically treated and oxide dispersion–strengthened options) and silicon carbide ceramic composites emerge as robust structural...
505 citations
TL;DR: A review of the development status for three accident tolerant fuel cladding technologies, namely coated zirconium-based cladding, ferritic alumina-forming alloy cladding and silicon carbide fiber-reinforced SCCM composite, is offered in this paper.
494 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors present an approach for processing bulk nanocomposites containing interfaces that are stable under irradiation, which is the key factor in reducing the damage and imparting stability in certain nanomaterials under conditions where bulk materials exhibit void swelling and/or embrittlement.
412 citations
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TL;DR: This Perspective provides a snapshot of the current energy landscape and discusses several research and development opportunities and pathways that could lead to a prosperous, sustainable and secure energy future for the world.
Abstract: Access to clean, affordable and reliable energy has been a cornerstone of the world's increasing prosperity and economic growth since the beginning of the industrial revolution. Our use of energy in the twenty–first century must also be sustainable. Solar and water–based energy generation, and engineering of microbes to produce biofuels are a few examples of the alternatives. This Perspective puts these opportunities into a larger context by relating them to a number of aspects in the transportation and electricity generation sectors. It also provides a snapshot of the current energy landscape and discusses several research and development opportunities and pathways that could lead to a prosperous, sustainable and secure energy future for the world.
7,721 citations
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22 Apr 1988
1,980 citations
"Materials Challenges in Nuclear Ene..." refers background in this paper
...) relative to iron oxides [149], it is the underlying oxide layer that can proffer the best corrosion resistance in the SCW environment....
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TL;DR: In this paper, a simple procedure is proposed for calculating the number of atomic displacements produced in a damage cascade by a primary knock-on atom of known energy, which is in close accord with recent computer simulations of radiation damage phenomena.
1,316 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, an emerging class of nanostructured ferritic alloys (NFAs) have been proposed for high-performance structural alloys with outstanding properties that are sustained under long-term service in ultrasevere environments.
Abstract: Advanced fission and future fusion energy will require new high-performance structural alloys with outstanding properties that are sustained under long-term service in ultrasevere environments, including neutron damage producing up to 200 atomic displacements per atom and, for fusion, 2000 appm of He. Following a brief description of irradiation damage and damage resistance, we focus on an emerging class of nanostructured ferritic alloys (NFAs) that show promise for meeting these challenges. NFAs contain an ultrahigh density of Y-Ti-O-enriched dispersion-strengthening nanofeatures (NFs) that, along with fine grains and high dislocation densities, provide remarkably high tensile, creep, and fatigue strength. The NFs are stable under irradiation up to 800°C and trap He in fine-scale bubbles, suppressing void swelling and fast fracture embrittlement at lower temperatures and creep rupture embrittlement at high temperatures. The current state of the development and understanding of NFAs is described, along wi...
1,021 citations
971 citations