Research database

SCORPION - SiC composite claddings: LWR performance optimization for nominal and accident conditions

Duration:
01/09/2022 - 28/02/2026
Principal investigator(s):
Project type:
UE-funded research - HE - EURATOM
Funding body:
COMMISSIONE EUROPEA
Project identification number:
101059511
PoliTo role:
Partner

Abstract

The Fukushima Daiichi event in 2011 demonstrated the need for enhanced nuclear energy safety, becoming a major driving force for global investments in accident-tolerant fuels (ATFs) over the past decade. Candidate ATF cladding material concepts that are being developed in replacement of the standard zirconium-based alloy (zircaloy) fuel cladding materials used in light water reactors (LWRs) must outperform commercial zircaloys under nominal operation, high-temperature transient (1200°C) conditions. SiC/SiC composites are a rather revolutionary ATF cladding material concept exhibiting inherent refractoriness, pseudoductility, and a lack of accelerated oxidation during a loss-of-coolant scenario. Due to their unique potential in meeting the stringent property requirements of the ATF cladding application, SiC/SiC composites have already claimed large global investments. Despite these investments, all state-of-the-art variants of the SiC/SiC composite cladding material concept must still overcome inherent shortcomings prior to their perspective deployment. Two important weaknesses are their inadequate compatibility with the coolant (water and steam) and the early (

Structures

Partners

  • CEA - COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE (anagrafica chiusa per codice iva non valido)
  • FONDAZIONE ISTITUTO ITALIANO DI TECNOLOGIA - Coordinator
  • FRIEDRICH-ALEXANDER-UNIVERSITAET ERLANGEN-NUERNBERG
  • GESELLSCHAFT FUR TECHNISCHE THERMOCHEMIE UND-PHYSIK MIT BESCHRANKTER HAFTUNG
  • KARLSRUHER INSTITUT FUER TECHNOLOGIE
  • KATHOLIEKE UNIVERSITEIT LEUVEN
  • KOKURITSU DAIGAKU HOJIN KYOTO DAIGAKU
  • LINKOPINGS UNIVERSITET
  • PAUL SCHERRER INSTITUT
  • POLITECNICO DI TORINO - AMMINISTRAZIONE CENTRALE
  • RHEINISCH-WESTFAELISCHE TECHNISCHE HOCHSCHULE AACHEN
  • THE CHANCELLOR, MASTERS AND SCHOLARS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD
  • THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN EFT DEPOSITORY
  • UNIVERSITY OF HUDDERSFIELD
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Keywords

ERC sectors

PE8_8 - Materials engineering (metals, ceramics, polymers, composites, etc.)

Sustainable Development Goals

Obiettivo 9. Costruire un'infrastruttura resiliente e promuovere l'innovazione ed una industrializzazione equa, responsabile e sostenibile

Budget

Total cost: € 3,073,343.75
Total contribution: € 2,630,843.50
PoliTo total cost: € 180,308.75
PoliTo contribution: € 180,308.75

Communication activities