Design of a new experimental loop and of a coolant purifying system for corrosion experiments of EUROFER samples in flowing PbLi environment

Abstract

The use of ferritic/martensitic RAFM steels in PbLi blanket applications requires a better understanding of material compatibility related to physical/chemical corrosion phenomena in the 450–550°C temperature range. The impact of corrosion includes deterioration of the mechanical integrity of the blanket structure due to the wall thinning. Furthermore, serious concerns are associated with the transport of activated corrosion products by the PbLi coolant. In this frame, the present work aims to illustrate the design of a new experimental facility named LIFUS II (LIthium for FUSion II) intended to extensively investigate corrosion mechanisms related on coated (Al2O3 based) and uncoated EUROFER samples at constant temperature of 550°C, for three different velocities and four different exposure times. Moreover, a “cold trap” purification system is designed to remove impurities and corrosion products dissolved in the liquid metal via upper concentration limits imposed by temperature-dependent solubility constrains.