▶ Date: 2023.2.14(TUE)

▶ Time: 10:00am ~ 11:00am

▶ Speaker: Dr. SeungMin Lee (TerraPower)

▶ Title: Thermochemical and Thermophysical Properties of Nuclear Fuels and Nuclear Wastes

▶ Abstract:

For better understanding of thermal properties of nuclear fuel and waste materials, characterization of their physical, chemical, and thermodynamic properties is significant. In addition, these properties can be utilized to perform property correlations or computer simulation/modeling process. Property measurements and data analyses for nuclear fuel and waste materials are crucial to develop and improve materials in nuclear industries. In this presentation, researches that I have carried out for nuclear fuels and wastes will be explained and discussed: (i) For nuclear fuels (TRISO and UO2-Nd2O3), their thermodynamic properties were assessed using the TGA-DSC, oxygen partial pressure, SEM-EDS, XPS, XRD, pycnometer, and FactSage software. Then, simulation and correlation was performed. (ii) For nuclear wastes, both high-level waste (HLW) and low-activity waste (LAW), their thermo-physical and -chemical properties were assessed using the crucible melting test, pellet test, TGA-DSC, GC-MS, XRD, SEM-EDS, archimedes density, viscometer, ICP test, etc. Then, property correlation was figured out. (iii) To understand characteristics of bulk powder materials and liquid slurry materials for melter feeds, various tests, such as cohesive strength, wall friction, compressibility, particle size distribution, permeability, chute angle, angle of repose, particle density, moisture content, solid/water content, slurry density, pH, viscosity, yield stress, shear strength, and settling test, were employed. These characterization and experimental methods can provide better ideas and insights for advanced nuclear materials in nuclear industry as well as others in materials industries.