MANET compatibility with PbLi eutectic

The most significant corrosion work on ferritic steel and PbLi eutectic has been done in the EU between MANET and LiPb. The work was done in the PICOLO loop, with flowing LiPb at temperatures of 450 to 550 C. The velocity was 0.3 m/s. It is stated that "LiPb is compatible with MANET up to 470C." (1)

The corrosion rate can be calculated by the following equation:(2)

log(d) = 12.3384 -10960/T

in which d is the loss of wall thickness in micor-m/h and T is the wall temperature in K.

Thus, we can calculate

       T,C           d, micro-m/h             d, mm/y

       450            0.0015                    0.013
       500            0.015                     0.13
       550            0.11                      0.92

BCSS recomended that the maximun corrosion rate be kept below 20 mm/y. Therefore, the temperature limit set by the EC team at 470 C maximun appears to be reasonable.

References

1. "Developement of Self-cooled Liquid Metal Breeder Blankets," FZKA 5581, Nov. 1995 P. 242

2. "Dual Coolant Blanket Concept," KfK 5424, Nov. 1994