The Chinese Academy of Sciences' nuclear energy system coolant technology has achieved new breakthroughs

The reporter recently learned that the liquid metal lithium experimental circuit developed by the project team of the Institute of Nuclear Energy Safety Technology of the Hefei Institute of Material Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences has achieved 1500K (equivalent to 1227 degrees Celsius) for the first time in China. It is 1000 hours of ultra-high temperature operation, marking China's advanced nuclear energy system. The key technology of liquid metal coolant has made new breakthroughs.

During the development process, the project team conquered the structural stress coordination, immersion measurement and flow stability control of the device under ultra-high temperature liquid lithium working environment. At present, the circuit has developed a series of high temperature refractory alloys at 1400K. The anti-corrosion performance research experiment in the flowing lithium environment of 1500K temperature zone, the high-temperature running performance has reached the international leading level, providing an important experimental platform for the research of the compatibility of ultra-high temperature liquid lithium and structural materials.

It is reported that liquid lithium or lithium alloy can be used as a coolant in the nuclear fusion reactor to derive the heat generated by the reactor. It has the advantages of high working temperature, good thermal conductivity and low density. Due to the high boiling point of liquid lithium, the system can be operated at normal pressure. The use of coolants such as lithium can make the reactor system compact and lightweight, and thus is the main coolant material for high-power space reactors and future fusion reactors.