Characterization of Increased Silicon and Chromium Impact on Premature Heat Tape Failure from Decreased Inconel C-276 Thermal Conductivity
Abstract
The purpose of this effort was to investigate the proposed hypothesis in our previous report that the heat tape used to heat the Inconel C-276 reactor vessel was prematurely failing due to an increased concentration of silicon and/or chromium on the reactor vessel's outer surface. The outer surface of the reactor vessel is exposed to air when being heated by the heat tape, and the increased silicon and/or chromium would produce increased silicon oxide, chromium oxide or an oxide layer with a combination of those two elements. An silicon/chromium oxide layer between the heat tape and outer reactor vessel surface is thought/hypothesized to reduce the thermal conductivity of the Inconel C-276 material due to silicon oxide and/or chromium oxide having a significantly lower thermal conductivity, which has been shown in literature to be as lower as 1.2-2.0 W/mK. This is close to a 91 percent reduction in thermal conductivity compared to the reported 21.9 W/mK (700 deg C) of Inconel C-276, which may result in the heat tape increasing in temperature (at localized spots) to the point of premature failure.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 03, 2023
- Accession Number
- AD1191164
Entities
People
- Talia M. Sebastian
- Theodore E. Burye