A new method for monitoring the redox potential of fuel salt based on the deposition of Nb-95 on Hastelloy C276

摘要

To develop the application of Nb-95 as an indicator of redox potential for fuel salt in molten salt reactor (MSR), the specific activity of Nb-95 in FLiBe salt and its deposition of Nb-95 on Hastelloy C276 have been studied. Experimental results indicated that the amount of Nb-95 deposited on Hastelloy C276 resulted from its chemical reduction exhibited a positive correlation with the decrease of Nb-95 activity in FLiBe salt and the relative deposition coefficient of Nb-95 to Ru-103 appeared a well correlation with Nb-95 activity in FLiBe salt. Both correlations implied that the measurement of Nb-95 activity deposited on Hastelloy C276 specimen might provide a quantitative approach for monitoring the redox potential of fuel salt in MSR.