Chemical Characterization of Simulated Boiling Water Reactor Coolant
Abstract
An in-pile facility is being constructed at MIT to simulate the thermal-hydraulic, radiation, and coolant-chemistry environment of a Boiling Water Reactor (BWR). The primary purpose of this BWR Coolant Chemistry Loop (BCCL) is to characterize coolant radiolysis chemistry by measurement of O2, H2O2, H2, electrode potential, pH, etc.. However, hydrogen peroxide, which is highly oxidizing, readily decomposes on system surfaces. Therefore, the measurement of, and computer code prediction of, the concentration of H2O2 in the BCCL emerges as the primary challenge to achieving the BCCL project objectives. The principal objective of this work was to design, build and test a coolant sampling system capable of measuring H2O2 to support BCCL operation. This included the requirement to investigate high-temperature H2O2 behavior sufficiently, both analytically and experimentally, to develop the design objectives for the sampling system. The high-temperature experiments on H2O2 behavior showed that surface decomposition was the same for the materials tested - titanium, aluminum and stainless steel, and minimal decomposition of H2O2 occurred when the sample line tubing wall was cooled. (JES)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 01, 1990
- Accession Number
- ADA226654
Entities
People
- Verrdon H. Mason
Organizations
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology