{"id":16033,"date":"2017-12-06T16:37:12","date_gmt":"2017-12-06T16:37:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sitepourvtc.com\/?page_id=16033"},"modified":"2022-11-03T11:16:47","modified_gmt":"2022-11-03T11:16:47","slug":"materials-nuclear-engineering","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/sitepourvtc.com\/nuclear-engineering\/materials-nuclear-engineering\/","title":{"rendered":"Materials for Nuclear Engineering"},"content":{"rendered":"<div   id="8n9s8rpp6h"     class=\"lgc-column lgc-grid-parent lgc-grid-100 lgc-tablet-grid-100 lgc-mobile-grid-100 lgc-equal-heights \"><div   id="8n9s8rpp6h"     class=\"inside-grid-column\"><div   id="8n9s8rpp6h"    class=\"su-spacer\" style=\"height:10px\"><\/div>\n<p><strong>Nuclear engineering<\/strong> is the branch of engineering concerned with applying <a href=\"http:\/\/sitepourvtc.com\/nuclear-power\/fission\/\"><strong>nuclear fission<\/strong><\/a> and <a href=\"http:\/\/sitepourvtc.com\/nuclear-power\/nuclear-fusion\/\"><strong>nuclear fusion<\/strong><\/a> and applying other sub-atomic physics based on the principles of <a href=\"http:\/\/sitepourvtc.com\/nuclear-power\/reactor-physics\/atomic-nuclear-physics\/\">nuclear physics<\/a>. In general,<strong> nuclear engineering<\/strong> deals with applying <a href=\"http:\/\/sitepourvtc.com\/nuclear-power\/nuclear-energy\/\"><strong>nuclear energy<\/strong><\/a> in various branches, including <a href=\"http:\/\/sitepourvtc.com\/nuclear-power-plant\/\"><strong>nuclear power plants<\/strong><\/a>, naval propulsion systems, food production, or medical diagnostic equipment such as MRI machines.<\/p>\n<p>Our goal here will be to introduce the <strong>material engineering<\/strong> of <a href=\"http:\/\/sitepourvtc.com\/nuclear-power-plant\/what-is-nuclear-reactor\/\">nuclear reactors<\/a>. The knowledge of thermophysical and nuclear properties of materials is essential for designing nuclear power plants.<\/p>\n<p>In general, there are two basic types of materials that are used in nuclear power plants.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Materials have specific nuclear properties<\/strong>. These materials must fulfill very specific requirements that originate, especially in interactions of atomic nuclei. This class corresponds to the <strong>nuclear fuels<\/strong>, <strong>neutron-absorbing materials,<\/strong> or alloys of<a title=\"Neutron Capture Cross-section\" href=\"http:\/\/sitepourvtc.com\/nuclear-power\/reactor-physics\/nuclear-engineering-fundamentals\/neutron-nuclear-reactions\/neutron-capture-radiative-capture\/neutron-capture-cross-section\/\"> low neutron capture cross-sections<\/a>. Proper nuclear properties are a priority for these materials, and the best chemical state (atomic properties) could be selected (e.g.,, <a title=\"Boron 10\" href=\"http:\/\/sitepourvtc.com\/glossary\/boron-10\/\">boron as a neutron absorber<\/a> can be used in water solution as <a title=\"Boric Acid \u2013 Chemical Shim\" href=\"http:\/\/sitepourvtc.com\/glossary\/boron-10\/boric-acid-chemical-shim\/\">boric acid<\/a> or as boron carbide &#8211; \u00a0B<sub>4<\/sub>C in <a title=\"Control Rods\" href=\"http:\/\/sitepourvtc.com\/nuclear-power-plant\/control-rods\/\">control rods<\/a>).<\/li>\n<li><strong>Standard engineering materials.<\/strong> These materials do not differ from the material used in other engineering branches. It must be added <strong>nuclear engineering<\/strong> puts <strong>higher requirements on the quality<\/strong> and <strong>reliability<\/strong> of all materials than in other engineering branches. This class corresponds, for example, to alloys, such as structural steels, stainless steels, aluminum alloys, etc. Few specific alloys have been developed for particular applications, such as <strong>Zr alloys<\/strong> in water reactors, which also belong to materials with specific nuclear properties.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Materials<\/strong> essential for designing nuclear power plants can be divided into the following groups:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Nuclear Fuels.<\/strong> <a title=\"Nuclear Fuel\" href=\"http:\/\/sitepourvtc.com\/nuclear-power-plant\/nuclear-fuel\/\"><strong>Nuclear fuel<\/strong><\/a> is generally any material that can be \u2018burned\u2019 by <a href=\"http:\/\/sitepourvtc.com\/nuclear-power\/fission\/\">nuclear fission<\/a> to derive <a href=\"http:\/\/sitepourvtc.com\/nuclear-power\/nuclear-energy\/\">nuclear energy<\/a>. Common nuclear reactors use <a href=\"http:\/\/sitepourvtc.com\/nuclear-power-plant\/nuclear-fuel\/uranium\/enriched-uranium\/\"><strong>enriched uranium<\/strong><\/a> and <a href=\"http:\/\/sitepourvtc.com\/nuclear-power-plant\/nuclear-fuel\/plutonium\/\">plutonium<\/a> as fuel. Most PWRs use <strong>uranium fuel<\/strong>, which is in the form of <strong>uranium dioxide<\/strong>, but other fuels and matrices are developed.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Neutron Moderators.<\/strong> <strong>The <a title=\"Neutron Moderator\" href=\"http:\/\/sitepourvtc.com\/neutron-moderator\/\">moderator<\/a><\/strong>, which is important in thermal reactors, is used to moderate, that is, <strong>to slow down<\/strong>\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/sitepourvtc.com\/nuclear-power\/reactor-physics\/atomic-nuclear-physics\/fundamental-particles\/neutron\/\">neutrons<\/a> from fission to thermal energies. Commonly used moderators include regular (light) water (roughly 75% of the world\u2019s reactors), solid graphite (20% of reactors), and heavy water (5% of reactors). Beryllium and beryllium oxide (BeO) have been used occasionally, but they are very costly.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Neutron Absorbers.<\/strong> The materials that absorb neutrons are used in the reactor core in the following three cases:\n<ul>\n<li><strong>In control rods,<\/strong> that are an important <strong>safety system<\/strong> of nuclear reactors.<\/li>\n<li>As <a title=\"Burnable Absorbers \u2013 Burnable Poisons\" href=\"http:\/\/sitepourvtc.com\/nuclear-power-plant\/nuclear-fuel\/burnable-absorbers-burnable-poisons\/\">burnable absorbers<\/a>, which can be dispersed uniformly in fuel or placed in certain sections.<\/li>\n<li>As additives to a moderator for compensation of an excess reactivity.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>Coolants.<\/strong> In a nuclear power plant, <strong>water and steam<\/strong> are common fluids used for<strong> heat exchange<\/strong> in the primary circuit (from the surface of fuel rods to the coolant flow) and in the secondary circuit. But many other materials can be used for this purpose. In power reactors, carbon dioxide, heavy water, helium, of liquid metals can be used.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Structural Materials.<\/strong> Many various materials are used in the designs of nuclear reactors. Some materials must have a lower neutron capture cross-section, especially inside a reactor core, where fission chain reaction takes place. On the other hand, many materials must have higher capture cross-sections. This section will discuss the basic physical properties of some structural materials (especially steels, alloys, and concretes) under normal conditions.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Radiation Shielding.<\/strong> Radiation shielding usually consists of barriers of lead, concrete, or water. Many materials can be used for radiation shielding, but there are many situations in radiation protection. It depends on the type of radiation to be shielded, its energy, and many other parameters. For example, even <a title=\"Depleted Uranium\" href=\"http:\/\/sitepourvtc.com\/nuclear-power-plant\/nuclear-fuel\/uranium\/depleted-uranium\/\">depleted uranium<\/a> can be used as good protection from gamma radiation, but on the other hand, uranium is inappropriate <a href=\"http:\/\/sitepourvtc.com\/nuclear-power\/reactor-physics\/atomic-nuclear-physics\/fundamental-particles\/neutron\/shielding-neutron-radiation\/\">shielding of neutron radiation<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div><div   id="8n9s8rpp6h"     class=\"lgc-column lgc-grid-parent lgc-grid-100 lgc-tablet-grid-100 lgc-mobile-grid-100 lgc-equal-heights \"><div   id="8n9s8rpp6h"     class=\"inside-grid-column\">\u00a0 <div   id="8n9s8rpp6h"    class=\"su-accordion su-u-trim\"><div   id="8n9s8rpp6h"    class=\"su-spoiler su-spoiler-style-default su-spoiler-icon-plus su-spoiler-closed\" data-scroll-offset=\"0\"><div   id="8n9s8rpp6h"    class=\"su-spoiler-title\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\"><span class=\"su-spoiler-icon\"><\/span>References:<\/div><div   id="8n9s8rpp6h"    class=\"su-spoiler-content su-u-clearfix su-u-trim\"><strong>Thermodynamics:<\/strong>\n<ol>\n<li>Yunus Cengel. Thermodynamics: An Engineering Approach, 8th Edition. McGraw-Hill Education, January 7, 2014. ISBN-13: 978-0073398174.<\/li>\n<li>Michael J. Moran, Howard N. Shapiro. Fundamentals of Engineering Thermodynamics, 8th Edition. Wiley, May 5, 2014. ISBN-13: 978-1118412930.<\/li>\n<li>Alexander Leyzerovich. Wet-Steam Turbines for Nuclear Power Plants. PennWell Corp.; American ed. edition (June 10, 2005). ISBN-10: 1593700326.<\/li>\n<li>U.S. Department of Energy, DOE Fundamentals Handbook. THERMODYNAMICS, HEAT TRANSFER, AND FLUID FLOW. Volume 1,2,3. June 1992.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><strong>Nuclear and Reactor Physics:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>J. R. Lamarsh, Introduction to Nuclear Reactor Theory, 2nd ed., Addison-Wesley, Reading,\u00a0MA (1983).<\/li>\n<li>J. R. Lamarsh, A. J. Baratta, Introduction to Nuclear Engineering, 3d ed., Prentice-Hall, 2001, ISBN: 0-201-82498-1.<\/li>\n<li>W. M. Stacey, Nuclear Reactor Physics, John Wiley &amp; Sons, 2001, ISBN: 0- 471-39127-1.<\/li>\n<li>Glasstone, Sesonske. Nuclear Reactor Engineering: Reactor Systems Engineering,\u00a0Springer; 4th edition, 1994, ISBN:\u00a0978-0412985317<\/li>\n<li>W.S.C. Williams. Nuclear and Particle Physics.\u00a0Clarendon Press; 1 edition, 1991, ISBN:\u00a0978-0198520467<\/li>\n<li>Kenneth S. Krane. Introductory Nuclear Physics, 3rd Edition, Wiley, 1987,\u00a0ISBN:\u00a0978-0471805533<\/li>\n<li>G.R.Keepin. Physics of Nuclear Kinetics.\u00a0Addison-Wesley Pub. Co; 1st edition, 1965<\/li>\n<li>Robert Reed Burn, Introduction to Nuclear Reactor Operation, 1988.<\/li>\n<li>U.S. Department of Energy, Nuclear Physics and Reactor Theory.\u00a0DOE Fundamentals Handbook,\u00a0Volume 1 and 2.\u00a0January\u00a01993.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><strong><\/strong><strong>Advanced Reactor Physics:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>K. O. Ott, W. A. Bezella, Introductory Nuclear Reactor Statics, American Nuclear Society, Revised edition (1989), 1989, ISBN: 0-894-48033-2.<\/li>\n<li>K. O. Ott, R. J. Neuhold, Introductory Nuclear Reactor Dynamics, American Nuclear Society, 1985, ISBN: 0-894-48029-4.<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">D. L. Hetrick, Dynamics of Nuclear Reactors, American Nuclear Society, 1993, ISBN: 0-894-48453-2.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li>E. E. Lewis, W. F. Miller, Computational Methods of Neutron Transport, American Nuclear Society, 1993, ISBN: 0-894-48452-4.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Another Reference:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><a title=\"Car Recycling\" href=\"http:\/\/www.likvidace-vozidla-praha.cz\/\">Car Recycling<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><div   id="8n9s8rpp6h"    class=\"su-divider su-divider-style-dotted\" style=\"margin:15px 0;border-width:2px;border-color:#999999\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><div   id="8n9s8rpp6h"    class=\"su-divider su-divider-style-default\" style=\"margin:15px 0;border-width:2px;border-color:#999999\"><\/div><div   id="8n9s8rpp6h"     class=\"lgc-column lgc-grid-parent lgc-grid-33 lgc-tablet-grid-33 lgc-mobile-grid-100 lgc-equal-heights \"><div   id="8n9s8rpp6h"     class=\"inside-grid-column\"><\/div><\/div><div   id="8n9s8rpp6h"     class=\"lgc-column lgc-grid-parent lgc-grid-33 lgc-tablet-grid-33 lgc-mobile-grid-100 lgc-equal-heights \"><div   id="8n9s8rpp6h"     class=\"inside-grid-column\">\n<h2>See above:<\/h2>\n<p>Nuclear Engineering<a href=\"http:\/\/sitepourvtc.com\/nuclear-engineering\/\" class=\"su-button su-button-style-flat\" style=\"color:#606060;background-color:#ffffff;border-color:#cccccc;border-radius:10px;-moz-border-radius:10px;-webkit-border-radius:10px\" target=\"_self\"><span style=\"color:#606060;padding:7px 20px;font-size:16px;line-height:24px;border-color:#ffffff;border-radius:10px;-moz-border-radius:10px;-webkit-border-radius:10px;text-shadow:0px 0px 0px #000000;-moz-text-shadow:0px 0px 0px #000000;-webkit-text-shadow:0px 0px 0px #000000\"><i class=\"sui sui-link\" style=\"font-size:16px;color:#5d5d5d\"><\/i> <\/span><\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><div   id="8n9s8rpp6h"     class=\"lgc-column lgc-grid-parent lgc-grid-33 lgc-tablet-grid-33 lgc-mobile-grid-100 lgc-equal-heights \"><div   id="8n9s8rpp6h"     class=\"inside-grid-column\"><\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":14176,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"generate_page_header":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sitepourvtc.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/16033"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sitepourvtc.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sitepourvtc.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sitepourvtc.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sitepourvtc.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=16033"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/sitepourvtc.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/16033\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":34369,"href":"https:\/\/sitepourvtc.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/16033\/revisions\/34369"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sitepourvtc.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/14176"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sitepourvtc.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=16033"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}