2023-12-16 20:10:00
US engineers have developed spray-coating technology to create a material withstanding the rigorous conditions inside a fusion reactor. This innovation might facilitate the design of compact fusion reactors that are more efficient and easier to maintain.
The researchers used a cold spray process to deposit a coating of tantalum, a metal capable of withstanding high temperatures, on stainless steel. They tested their cold-sprayed tantalum coating in extreme conditions similar to those of a fusion reactor and found that it performed very well.
The tantalum is inherently good at absorbing hydrogen, and the researchers suspected that creating a tantalum coating using a cold spray process would increase its hydrogen-trapping capabilities even further.
Conclusive experiences
Mykola Ialovega, postdoctoral researcher in nuclear engineering and engineering physics at theUW-Madisonconducted experiments on the coated material at facilities at Aix Marseille University in France and Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH in Germany.
During these experiments, he found that when he heated the material to a higher temperature, it expelled the trapped hydrogen particles without changing the coatings, a process that essentially regenerates the material so it can be reused.
“We found that the cold-sprayed tantalum coating absorbs significantly more hydrogen than bulk tantalum due to the unique microstructure of the coating“, explains Kumar Sridharan, professor of nuclear engineering and engineering physics at UWM.
From left: Engineer Jeremiah Kirch, postdoctoral researcher Mykola Ialovega and assistant scientist Marcos Xavier Navarro-Gonzalez, who are working on implementing tantalum coatings as a plasma-oriented material for the WHAM device, pictured in the background. Courtesy of Mykola Ialovega
Over the past decade, the research group has introduced cold spray technology to the nuclear power community by implementing it for multiple applications related to fission reactors.
Synthetic
This new cold spray coating technology might revolutionize the design and maintenance of fusion reactors. By improving tantalum’s ability to trap hydrogen, researchers have created a material that can withstand the extreme conditions inside a fusion reactor and can be regenerated for continued reuse. This advance might facilitate the design of compact fusion reactors that are more efficient and easier to maintain.
“Creating a refractory metal composite with these characteristics of well-controlled hydrogen handling, combined with the erosion resistance and general resiliency of the material, represents a breakthrough for the design of plasma devices and systems. fusion energy“, declares Olivier Schmitz at UWM. “Of particular interest is the prospect of modifying the alloy and including other refractory metals to improve the composite for nuclear applications.“
For a better understanding
What is tantalum?
Tantalum is a rare and precious metal known for its resistance to corrosion and heat.
What is cold spray?
Cold spraying is a process of propelling particles of coating material at supersonic speeds onto a surface. Upon impact, the particles flatten like pancakes and cover the entire surface.
Why is tantalum used in fusion reactors?
Tantalum is used in fusion reactors because of its ability to withstand high temperatures and absorb hydrogen.
What are the advantages of this new coating technology?
This new coating technology creates a material that can withstand the extreme conditions inside a fusion reactor and can be regenerated for continued reuse.
What are the next steps for this research?
The researchers plan to use their new material in the Wisconsin HTS Axisymmetric Mirror (WHAM), an experimental device under construction near Madison, Wisconsin.
References
Main illustration caption: Graduate students Evan Willing (left) and Tyler Dabney set up equipment to apply a cold spray coating in Professor Kumar Sridharan’s cold spray lab. Photo by Joel Hallberg
University of Wisconsin-Madison. (2023). New coating technology for fusion reactors. Physica Scripta.
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