Thermodynamic Evaluation of Equilibrium Oxygen Composition of UO2-Mo Nuclear Fuel Pellet Under High Temperature Steam

Micro-plate or microcell UO2–Mo is considered a promising accident tolerant fuel candidate for water-cooled power reactors. In this work, we evaluated the anticipated oxidation behavior of a UO2–Mo system under high-temperature steam to understand the impact of Mo oxidation on the fuel degradation mechanism in the event of steam ingress through cracks in the cladding. The equilibrium oxygen compositions of UO2 and Mo in various steam atmospheres relevant to reactor operating conditions were predicted using thermodynamic calculations and then compared with previous results. The oxidation behavior of UO2–Mo pellets was discussed through thermodynamic calculations and in terms of kinetic parameters such as oxygen diffusion, fuel temperature profile, and pellet microstructure. Mo oxidation was found to have an insignificant effect on pellet integrity in a cladding leakage scenario under normal reactor operating conditions.

Thermodynamic analysis of oxidation during selective laser melting of pure titanium

Purpose When a pure titanium component is fabricated in a selective laser melting (SLM) process using titanium powder, the oxygen concentration of the SLM sample increases compared to the initial powder. The purpose of this paper is to study the reason for increasing oxygen concentration after SLM. Design/methodology/approach To understand this phenomenon, the authors analyzed the oxidation behavior during the SLM process thermodynamically. Findings Based on the laser parameters used in this study, the temperature of the Ti melt during the SLM process was expected to rise to 2,150°C. Based on the thermodynamic analysis, the equilibrium oxygen partial pressure for oxidation was 2.32 × 10−19 atm at 2,150°C when the dissolved oxygen concentration in the titanium is 0.2 wt.%. However, the oxygen partial pressure inside the SLM chamber was 1 × 10−3 atm, which is much higher than the equilibrium oxygen partial pressure. Therefore, oxidation occurred during the SLM process, and the oxygen concentration of the SLM sample increased compared to the initial powder. Originality/value Most studies on fabricating Ti components using additive manufacturing (AM) have been focused on how the changes in the microstructures and mechanical properties depend on the process parameters. However, there are a few studies that analyzed the oxygen concentration change of Ti during the AM process and its causes. In this study, the authors analyzed the oxidation behavior during the SLM process thermodynamically.

Iron Oxidation State Analysis in ESR Slag

It is shown that the value of the equilibrium oxygen partial pressure,Po2as a value available for measurements is possible to be taken as a measure of slag redox potential of, taking into account its electronic system performance. Application of the electromotive force method (EMF) allowed establishing the character of a change in the average oxidation state of iron νFedepending onPo2, the temperature and slag composition. The study of Mössbauer absorption spectra of quenched slag samples confirmed the possibility of simultaneous presence of iron in the flux in oxidation states from 0 to +3.

Research on the oxygen content in 304L stainless steel during VOD-LF-CC process based on IMCT

The total oxygen in 304L stainless steel produced by the VOD-LF-CC process is investigated in this research. The equilibrium oxygen content in the molten steel during the smelting process is calculated based on the ion-molecule coexistence theory. The results show that it is feasible to use the developed thermodynamic model for calculating the equilibrium oxygen content in CaO–SiO2–Al2O3–MgO–FeO–Cr2O3 slags equilibrated with 304L molten steel. The variation law for total oxygen is in good agreement with the equilibrium oxygen content. The oxygen content of the oxide-inclusion decreases with the number density of inclusions, which decrease at different stages in the process. The content of FeO and Cr2O3 in the slag has no obvious effect on the equilibrium oxygen content when the basicity of the slag remains constant. Combining the proposed method with industrial practice, the optimum VOD process parameters for obtaining a low equilibrium oxygen content are as follows: 1600–1650 °C of the temperature after the VOD stage, 0.4–0.5% of the Si content after reduction, and 2.2–2.5 of the slag basicity.

Contribution to Deoxidation of Austenitic Steels in a Vacuum Induction Furnace with Carbon

Deoxidation of steel with carbon under reduced pressure is often used for increasing the steel purity. Suitable units for this purpose in foundries are vacuum induction furnaces. Possibilities of increasing the steel purity by deoxidation with carbon in the vacuum induction furnace were studied for the steel for the petrochemistry of specific composition 25Cr/35Ni. The charge composed of the return material only was melted in the air. During melting the charge oxidized and the oxidizing slag formed. Chemical composition of steel, morphology, chemical composition of inclusions in the steel and chemical composition of slag after vacuuming were studied on the basis of samples taken before and after vacuuming. Temperature and oxygen activity were measured before and after vacuuming. Globular inclusions with dominant content of silicon and manganese were observed in steel before and after vacuuming. Contents of total oxygen in steel didn’t change significantly during vacuuming. On the basis of composition of inclusions and measured oxygen activity the activity of Cr2O3 in inclusions was calculated. A slag sample was taken after vacuuming and equilibrium oxygen activity in steel with regard to the Cr2O3 content in the slag was estimated from the slag composition. Equilibrium oxygen activity in relation to the Cr2O3 content in the slag was higher than equilibrium activity measured in the steel. For this reason it is not possible, under the studied conditions, to decrease oxygen content in steel during vacuuming.