Numerical study of solid-state oxygen control bypass performance and corrosion distribution in a LBE flow loop

Abstract

Liquid lead–bismuth solid-state oxygen control technology is considered to be one of the effective means to inhibit corrosion of structural materials. The dissolution rate of PbO particles in the mass exchanger (MX) is a crucial factor influencing the effectiveness of solid-state oxygen control. To enhance the oxygen control efficiency of the MX, a PbO particle dissolution model based on the UPBEAT (Universal lead(Pb) bismuth(Bi) Eutectic Advanced Test loop) was established. This model aims to determine the impact of temperature, LBE flow rate, operating time, and initial oxygen concentration on the dissolution rate of PbO particles and the steady-state time in the MX. The obtained insights inform the design and operational aspects of the MX. Simultaneously, a loop corrosion precipitation model was developed to simulate loop corrosion in both oxygen-free and solid-state oxygen control states. While the corrosion precipitation distribution in the loop remains consistent between oxygen-free and oxygen-controlled states, solid-state oxygen control effectively enhances the corrosion resistance of the loop.