The methods and results of accelerated tests performed on fuel and structural materials, individual units and an entire EGC for computational and experimental validation of service-life–power characteristics are examined for long-life (≥7 yr) EGC operating regimes. The results of such studies provide the requisite initial data for the KIM software system used to model the service-life behavior of EGC taking account of the interaction of the main service-life-determining processes. It is shown on the basis of complex computational and experimental studies that the time required for reactor tests of EGC in order to validate a long service life, including for dual-regime operation as part of an NPP, can be reduced.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
A. S. Gontar’, V. N. Sotnikov, and M. V. Nelidov, “Updating of a developed model and improvement of complex software for validating the output characteristics and service-life behavior of a multi-element EGC,” in: Sb. Tr. NII NPO Luch, 2000–2002, TSNIIatominform, Moscow (2003), pp. 45–48.
A. S. Gontar’, A. A. Gridnev, and D. Yu. Lyubimov, “Analysis of physical and chemical processes in a multielement EGC with communicating fuel-element cavities and interelectrode gap,” At. Énerg., 104, No. 4, 216–224 (2008).
D. Yu. Lyubimov and L. G. Smirnov, “Mathematical description of diffusion and condensation of alkali-earth fission products and their oxides in a trap and gas-exhaust duct,” in: Sb. Tr. NII NPO LUCh, 2000–2002, TSNIIatominform, Moscow (2003), pp. 39–44.
A. S. Gontar’, M. V. Nelidov, Yu. V. Nikolaev, et al., “Construction and fuel materials for the fuel-elements of thermionic NPP,” At. Énerg., 99, No. 5, 365–371 (2005).
P. V. Zubarev and A. G. Sintsov, “Investigation of creep in single-crystal alloys of tungsten in the range (0.5–0.6) T melt: characteristics of materials, investigation procedure, creep of single-crystal tungsten,” Metally, No.5, 77–80 (1998).
P. V. Zubarev and A. G. Sintsov, “On the question of creep in single-crystal tungsten alloys in the range (0.5–0.6)T melt,” ibid., pp. 85–89.
A. A. Gridnev, D. N. Dzhalandinov, P. V. Zubarev, et al., “Investigation of high-temperature creep in coarse-grain uranium dioxide,” At. Énerg., 59, No. 1, 27–29 (1985).
A. A. Gontar’, V. S. Gutnik, M. V. Nelidov, and A. S. Panov, “Accelerated testing of fuel materials for EGC,” in: Abstr. 2nd Int. Semin. Nuclear Power in Space in the 21st Century, SNPE-XXI, Obninsk (2000), p. 52.
Yu. G. Degal’tsev, N. N. Ponomarev-Stepnoi, and V. F. Kuznetsov, Behavior of High-Temperature Nuclear Fuel under Irradiation, Energoatomizdat, Moscow (1987).
A. S. Gontar’, A. A. Gridnev, E. M. Rakitskaya, et al., “Optimization of the structure of uranium dioxide in application to the fuel elements of thermionic converter reactors,” At. Énerg., 99, No. 4, 264–268 (2005).
Yu. V. Nikolaev, A. S. Gontar, G. A. Vedenyapin, et al., “Out-of-pile simulation of deformation behaviour of a thermionic fuel element under thermocycling conditions,” in: Proc. 29th Intersociety Energy Conversion Eng. Conf., Monterey (1994), Vol. 2, pp. 1027–1031.
A. S. Gontar, M. V. Nelidov, Yu. V. Nikolaev, and L. N. Schulepov, “Fuel elements of thermionic converters,” J. Franklin Institute A, 333, No. 2–6, 113–276 (1996).
K. P. Vlasov, A. S. Gontar’, V. S. Gutnik, et al., “Development of a method and experimental setups for studying the swelling of fuel at high temperatures,” Vopr. At. Nauki Tekhn. Ser. At. Materialoved., No. 3(16), 17–21 (1984).
A. S. Gontar, V. S. Gutnik, M. V. Nelidov, et al., “Swelling of uranium dioxide and deformation behaviour of the fuel element at high temperature irradiation,” in: Proc. 28th Intersociety Energy Conversion Eng. Conf., Atlanta (1993), Vol. 1, pp. 549–553.
A. S. Gontar’, V. S. Gutnik, V. A. Zaitsev, et al., “Method and results of comparative radiation tests of high-temperature fuel materials,” in: Abstr. 4th Industry Conf. Nuclear Power in Space: Materials, Fuels, Podolsk (1993), pp. 81–82.
V. P. Nikitin, B. G. Ogloblin, Ye. I. Lutov, et al., “Program on the TOPAZ-2 system preparation for flight test,” in: Proc. 10th Symp. Space Nuclear Power and Propulsion Systems, Albuquerque (1993), Pt. 2, pp. 741–746.
A. S. Gontar’, S. A. Eremin, N. V. Lapochkin, et al., “Improved single-element electricity generating channel for enhanced-power thermionic NPP,” in: Int. Conf. Nuclear Power in Spaced-2005, Moscow (2005), Vol. 2, pp. 279–283.
Yu. G. Degal’tsev, V. F. Kuznetsov, V. D. Slabkii, and A. S. Gontar’, “Colligation of the results of post-reactor studies of single-element EGC of the type E-16MO, past NPP in the experimental setups YA-81, -82 for verification of an OVERAT model for predicting service life,” in: Abstr. 5th Int. Conf. Nuclear Power in Space, Podol’sk (1999), p. 52.
A. S. Gontar’, A. A. Davydov, V. S. Kolesov, et al., RF Patent No. 2183880, “Method of accelerated reactor tests of multielement electricity generating channel (variant),” Byull. Izobret., Polezn. Modeli, No.17, 349 (2002).
V. I. Vybyvanets, A. S. Gontar’, S. A. Eremin, et al., “Base electricity generating channel for dual-regime thermionic NPP: Scientific and technical problems of design and development,” Int. Conf. Nuclear Power in Space-2005, Moscow (2005), Vol. 1, pp. 79–82.
V. S. Vasil’kovskii, P. V. Andreev, G. A. Zaritskii, et al., “Problems of power generation in space and the role of nuclear power plants in their solution,” ibid., pp. 20–25.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Translated from Atomnaya Énergiya, Vol. 116, No. 3, pp. 123–131, March, 2014.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Alekseev, S.V., Vybyvanets, V.I., Gontar’, A.S. et al. Optimization and Long-Life Validation Methods for EGC. At Energy 116, 159–167 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10512-014-9835-y
Received:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10512-014-9835-y