PROBLEMS OF ATOMIC SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Series: Nuclear and Reactor Constants

since 1971

Русский (РФ)

ISSN 2414-1038 (online)

LIQUID METALS IN NUCLEAR ENERGY, THERMONUCLEAR AND OTHER INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES

EDN: XOQJBT

Authors & Affiliations

Sorokin A.P., Kuzina Yu.A., Alekseev V.V., Askhadullin R.Sh., Denisova N.A.
A.I. Leypunsky Institute for Physics and Power Engineering, Obninsk, Russia

Sorokin A.P. – Chief Researcher, Dr. Sci. (Tech.). Contacts: 1, pl. Bondarenko, Obninsk, Kaluga region, 249033. Tel.: +7 (484) 399-70-00 (доб. 84-47); e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Kuzina Yu.A. – Head of Nuclear Power Department, Cand. Sci. (Tech.).
Alekseev V.V. – Chief Researcher, Dr. Sci. (Tech.).
Askhadullin R.Sh. – Head of Department, Cand. Sci. (Tech.).
Denisova N.A. – Leading Researcher.

Abstract

The article presents the results of research carried out at JSC SSC RF – IPPE on the physical, thermal, and physicochemical properties and processes of liquid metal coolant technology, as well as practical experience in their use in nuclear energy, thermonuclear, and other innovative technologies, and formulates directions for further research. The list of liquid metals and their alloys used or considered promising in nuclear energy is quite broad: sodium, sodium-potassium alloy, lithium, potassium, cesium, lead, lead-bismuth alloy. It has been demonstrated that extensive experience has been accumulated in handling liquid metals as coolants, along with extensive knowledge of their physical, thermal, and physicochemical properties. As a result, a scientific foundation and a set of methods and tools for handling liquid metals as coolants for nuclear power plants have been developed. Prototypes and power units for sodium-cooled nuclear power plants have been developed: BR-10, BOR-60, BN-350, BN-600, and BN-800 (Russia), Rhapsody, Phoenix, and Superphénix (France), EBR II and FFTF (USA), and PFR (UK). Russia has developed specialized nuclear power plants with Pb-Bi coolant for nuclear submarines and Na-K coolant for the BUK and TOPOL spacecraft, which have no analogues anywhere in the world. Liquid metals, primarily lithium and its alloy with lead, are promising for use in fusion reactors as coolants and tritium breeding media. New research results are described using sodium technology for the BN-1200 reactor design and Pb-Bi and Pb technology for the SVBR, BREST, and accelerator-controlled systems reactor designs. Knowledge of the microstructure of metal melts and physical and chemical processes allows us to consider the possibility of adjusting the properties of liquid metal coolants using additives. Innovative technologies based on the use of liquid metals are presented: heat pipes, direct-contact steam generators, the production of various aerogels and pure semiconductor silicon from waste from the production of mineral fertilizers.

Keywords
nuclear energy, nuclear power plants, thermonuclear plants, liquid metals, sodium, sodium-potassium, lithium, lead, lead-bismuth, thermophysical, physical-chemical processes, mass transfer, impurities, purification from impurities, impurity control, innovative thechnologies

Article Text (PDF, in Russian)

References

UDC 536.24: 621.039.524.4: 621.039.58

Problems of Atomic Science and Technology. Series: Nuclear and Reactor Constants, 2026, no. 2, 2:15