Thermophysical Properties of Materials for Nuclear Engineering: a Tutorial and Collection of Data
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Thermophysical Properties of Materials For Nuclear Engineering: A Tutorial and Collection of Data INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY VIENNA 2008 The originating Section of this publication in the IAEA was: Nuclear Power Technology Development Section International Atomic Energy Agency Wagramer Strasse 5 P.O. Box 100 A-1400 Vienna, Austria THERMOPHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF MATERIALS FOR NUCLEAR ENGINEERING: A TUTORIAL AND COLLECTION OF DATA IAEA, VIENNA, 2008 IAEA-THPH ISBN 978–92–0–106508–7 © IAEA, 2008 Printed by the IAEA in Austria November 2008 FOREWORD Renewed interest in the potential of nuclear energy to contribute to a sustainable worldwide energy mix is strengthening the IAEA’s statutory role in fostering the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, in particular the need for effective exchanges of information and collaborative research and technology development among Member States on advanced nuclear power technologies (Articles III-A.1 and III-A.3). To meet Member States’ needs, the IAEA conducts activities to foster information exchange and collaborative research development in the area of advanced nuclear reactor technologies. These activities, implemented with the advice and support of the various technical working groups of the IAEA’s Department of Nuclear Energy, include coordination of collaborative research, organization of international information exchange and analyses of globally available technical data and results, with a focus on reducing nuclear power plant capital costs and construction periods while further improving performance, safety and proliferation resistance. In other activities, evolutionary and innovative advances are catalyzed for all reactor lines such as advanced water cooled reactors, high temperature gas cooled reactors, liquid metal cooled reactors and accelerator driven systems, including small and medium sized reactors. In addition, there are activities related to other applications of nuclear energy such as seawater desalination, hydrogen production, and other process heat applications. Of particular interest is the collection and dissemination of up to date scientific and technical data, also in view of knowledge preservation and transmission the next generation of scientists and engineers. This publication provides a comprehensive summary of the thermophysical properties data needed in nuclear power engineering, viz. data for nuclear fuels (metallic and ceramic), coolants (gases, light water, heavy water, liquid metals), moderators, absorbers, structural materials. The correlations and equations are given, which are needed for estimation of material properties, including thermodynamic properties (density, enthalpy, specific heat capacity, melting and boiling points, heat of fusion and vapourization, vapour pressure, thermal expansion, surface tension), and transport properties (thermal conductivity and thermal diffusivity, viscosity, integral thermal conductivity, electrical resistivity, and emissivity). The detailed material properties for both solid and liquid states are shown in tabular form. The data on thermphysical properties of saturated vapours of some metals are also given. The driving force behind this publication was P.L. Kirillov of the Obninsk Institute for Atomic Power Engineering (OIATE). The IAEA would like to express its appreciation to him and to the contributors listed at the end of this publication. The IAEA officer responsible for this publication was A. Stanculescu from the Division of Nuclear Power. EDITORIAL NOTE The use of particular designations of countries or territories does not imply any judgement by the publisher, the IAEA, as to the legal status of such countries or territories, of their authorities and institutions or of the delimitation of their boundaries. The mention of names of specific companies or products (whether or not indicated as registered) does not imply any intention to infringe proprietary rights, nor should it be construed as an endorsement or recommendation on the part of the IAEA. CONTENTS INTRODUCTION...................................................................................................................... 1 1. GENERAL INFORMATION........................................................................................... 3 References to Introduction And Section 1........................................................................ 8 2. NUCLEAR FUEL........................................................................................................... 11 2.1. General performance of fissile materials and nuclear fuel ................................ 11 2.2. Metallic fuel....................................................................................................... 14 2.2.1. Uranium................................................................................................... 14 2.2.2. Plutonium................................................................................................ 18 2.2.3. Thorium................................................................................................... 21 2.3. Ceramic fuel...................................................................................................... 24 2.3.1. Uranium dioxide...................................................................................... 24 2.3.2. Plutonium dioxide ................................................................................... 34 2.3.3. Mixed oxide fuel MOX — (U, Pu)O2 ..................................................... 36 2.3.4. Uranium mononitride.............................................................................. 38 2.3.5. Uranium carbide...................................................................................... 44 References to Section 2................................................................................................... 49 3. COOLANTS.................................................................................................................... 56 3.1. Gases.................................................................................................................. 56 3.1.1. Air........................................................................................................... 56 3.1.2. Helium..................................................................................................... 56 3.2. Water (H2O)....................................................................................................... 59 3.3. Heavy water (D2O) ............................................................................................ 70 3.4. Liquid metals..................................................................................................... 81 3.4.1. Basic thermophysical properties (Li, Na, K, Cs, Hg, Pb, Bi, Ga, In, alloys NaK, NaKCs, PbBi, PbLi ............................................................. 81 3.4.2. Approxcimate correlations and comments to tables on thermophysical properties (Li, Na, K, Cs, Hg, Pb, Bi, Ga, In, alloys NaK, NaKCs, PbBi, PbLi)............................................................ 81 3.4.3. Tables of thermophysical properties ....................................................... 92 3.4.4. Thermophysical properties of vapours of some metals (Li, Na, K, Cs)....................................................................................... 116 References to Section 3................................................................................................. 118 4. MODERATORS........................................................................................................... 121 4.1. Basic properties of moderators........................................................................ 121 4.2. Graphite (carbon)............................................................................................. 124 4.3. Beryllium......................................................................................................... 130 4.3.1. Properties of solid beryllium depending on temperature ...................... 131 4.3.2. Properties of liquid beryllium depending on temperature..................... 134 4.4. Beryllium oxide............................................................................................... 135 References to Section 4................................................................................................. 140 5. ABSORBING MATERIALS ....................................................................................... 142 5.1. Materials of control rods.................................................................................. 142 5.1.1. Boron (natural) ...................................................................................... 142 5.1.2. AgInCd alloy......................................................................................... 145 5.1.3. Hafnium................................................................................................. 145 5.2. Burnable absorbers .......................................................................................... 145 References to Section 5................................................................................................. 147 6. STRUCTURAL MATERIALS .................................................................................... 148 6.1. General information......................................................................................... 148 6.2 Metals.............................................................................................................