Safety Research for Nuclear Reactors (NUSAFE): Transmutation -Liquid Metal Technology-

Long-living high-level radioactive waste from existing nuclear power reactors should be transmuted in short-living radio nuclides using fast neutrons provided by a spallation target in an accelerator driven subcritical system or by a fast nuclear reactor. The objective is to reduce the final disposal time of highlevel radioactive waste (plutonium, minor actinides) from some 106 years down to about 1000 years. Lead (Pb) and lead-bismuth (PbBi) are foreseen as spallation-target and coolant of such devices.
The aim of the institute’s contribution is the development of advanced corrosion mitigation processes especially for parts under high loads like fuel claddings or pump materials in contact with liquid Pb or PbBi. Pulsed large area electron beams (GESA) are used to modify the surface of steels such that they fulfill the requirements of their surrounding environment. Corrosion test stands for exposure of specimens under relevant conditions are developed and operated. Conditioning the Pb-alloy with regard to its oxygen concentration and the transport of oxygen in PbBi are additional aspects of the work.
All tasks are embedded in European and international projects and cooperations like e.g., MaTISSE, MYRTE
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and GEMMA.