R&D for Future Fast Reactors image

Research on Chemical Reactions and Characteristics of Sodium

--Sodium-Concrete Reactions--

Tsurusoken advances the accident phenomenon evaluation technology by clarifying why the chemical reaction terminates.

In a fast reactor, steel liners are installed to prevent sodium and concrete from reacting in the accident of a sodium leak.

For probabilistic safety assessment, it is important and necessary to evaluate when the steel liners are damaged and the chemical reaction such as concrete erosion with hydrogen gas generation occurs.

In this study, we experimentally confirmed that the sodium-concrete reaction stopped automatically, and clarified the stopping mechanism. We measured the thermal conductivity of the product and confirmed that it was equivalent to the slag* one.

* slag

Mixed oxides such as silicon dioxide, calcium oxide, and aluminum oxide.

Schema of reaction experiment equipment image

Schema of reaction experiment equipment

Actual reaction experimental equipment photo

Actual reaction experimental equipment

Atomic arrangement of non-crosslinked oxygen such as sodium ion image

Atomic arrangement of non-crosslinked oxygen such as sodium ion*

* Reference:Mills KC. SLAG ATLAS 2nd Edition 1995.

Thermal conductivity of slag and product (λ) image

Thermal conductivity of slag and product (λ)*

* Reference Hasegawa H, et al., Metall Mater Trans B. 2012;43(6):1413–1419.