2013/10/25 by Jorge Fradera, Fradera, Jorge, Santiago Cuesta‐López +2
Materials Science · Physics and Astronomy · #Computational Physics (physics.comp-ph) #FOS: Physical sciences #Fluid Dynamics (physics.flu-dyn) #Fusion materials and technologies #Nuclear Materials and Properties #Nuclear Physics and Applications #physics.comp-ph #physics.flu-dyn
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.1310.6892
10 pages, 12 figures
arxiv created 2013/10/25 · openalex publication_date 2013/10/25 · arxiv updated 2013/10/28 · openalex created_date 2022/10/03 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
The impact of nucleating gas bubbles in the form of a dispersed gas phase on hydrogen isotope permeation at interfaces between liquid metals, like LLE, and structural materials, like stainless steel, has been studied. Liquid metal to structural material interfaces involving surfaces, may lower the nucleation barrier promoting bubble nucleation at active sites. Hence, hydrogen isotope absorption into gas bubbles modelling and control at interfaces may have a capital importance regarding design, operation and safety. He bubbles as a permeation barrier principle is analysed showing a significant impact on hydrogen isotope permeation, which may have a significant effect on liquid metal systems, e.g., tritium extraction systems. Liquid metals like LLE under nuclear irradiation in, e.g., breeding blankets of a nuclear fusion reactor would generate tritium which is to be extracted and recirculated as fuel. At the same time that tritium is bred, helium is also generated and may precipitate in the form of nano bubbles. Phenomena modelling is exposed and implemented in OpenFoam(r) CFD tool for 0D to 3D simulations. Results for a 1D case show the impact of a He dispersed phase of nano bubbles on hydrogen isotopes permeation at an interface. In addition, a simple permeator simulation, consisting in a straight 3D pipe is exposed showing the effect of a He dispersed gas phase on hydrogen isotope permeation through different stainless steels. Results show the permeation reduction as a function of the interface area covered by He bubbles. Our work highlights the effect of gas bubble nucleation at interfaces and the importance of controlling these phenomena in nuclear technology applications.