| EPSRC Reference: |
EP/Z533282/1 |
| Title: |
Equipment for probing fundamental FLiBe molten salt behaviour to support future delivery of fusion and fission energy |
| Principal Investigator: |
Sharrad, Dr CA |
| Other Investigators: |
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| Department: |
Chem Eng and Analytical Science |
| Organisation: |
University of Manchester, The |
| Scheme: |
Standard Research TFS |
| Starts: |
01 October 2024 |
Ends: |
30 September 2025 |
Value (£): |
1,022,319
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| Panel History: |
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Summary on Grant Application Form |
Context: The salt system FLiBe is considered to be one of the two options for the blanket material for breeding tritium fuel in the UK's STEP fusion reactor to be deployed by 2040, and is considered for use in a number of next generation molten salt reactor (MSR) fission designs, primarily because of the favourable neutronic properties of this salt system. However, despite its proposed deployment in looming advanced nuclear energy systems there is comparatively limited fundamental understanding of the chemical behaviour of these salts under likely operational conditions and associated performance knowledge for FLiBe containment materials.
Challenge: There are few facilities throughout the world capable of studying FLiBe salt systems not only due to the challenges of preparing and handling fluoride salts, due to the potential generation of corrosive hydrofluouric acid (HF), but also the toxicity concerns in handling beryllium. The ability to safely study FLiBe with radioactive tritium to support fusion, and other radioisotopes of interest (e.g uranium and thorium for MSR systems) will make this facility unique worldwide.
Aims and Objectives: The proposed glovebox system, combined with an integrated worker safety and monitoring strategy, will offer world-leading capability of high immediate interest across academia and industry, which is needed given the relatively short timelines to deployment of these FLiBe salts in advanced reactor systems.
The primary aim of the proposed equipment is to provide the capability to handle FLiBe molten salts, that minimises the risk of user exposure to Be toxicity and the possibility of HF generation.
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Key Findings |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Potential use in non-academic contexts |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Impacts |
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| Description |
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk |
| Summary |
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| Date Materialised |
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Sectors submitted by the Researcher |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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| Project URL: |
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| Further Information: |
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| Organisation Website: |
http://www.man.ac.uk |