Nuclear physical properties of ferritic-martensitic steel EK-181 under conditions of long-term neutron irradiation in fast breeder BN-600 and fusion DEMO-RF reactors

Abstract

Dynamics of primary radiation damage, nuclear transmutations, and radioactivity accumulation (activation) and decrease (cooling) during long-term (up to 50 years) irradiation in the neutron spectra of the fast breeder BN-600 and fusion DEMO-RF reactors are calculated using the ACDAM computational system for EK-181 (Fe-12 Cr-W-V-Ta-B) ferritic-martensitic steel. In the BN-600 reactor, at short irradiation times (up to 560 days), the EK-181 steel meets the “low-activation“ criterion, but this criterion is not met for long-term irradiation (more than 30 years). In case of the DEMO-RF reactor and long-term irradiation (up to 50 years), the EK-181 steel meets the low-activation criterion.