Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT) (방사성폐기물학회지)

Korean Radioactive Waste Society (한국방사성폐기물학회)
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Evaluation of Silicon Carbide (SiC) for Deep Borehole Disposal Canister

심부시추공 처분용기 재료로서 SiC 세라믹의 적합성 평가

  • Received : 2017.11.29
  • Accepted : 2018.04.25
  • Published : 2018.06.29
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Abstract

To overcome the low mechanical strength and corrosion behavior of a carbon steel canister at high temperature condition of a deep borehole, SiC ceramics were studied as an alternative material for the disposal canister. In this paper, a design concept for a SiC canister, along with an outer stainless steel container, was proposed, and its manufacturing feasibility was tested by fabricating several 1/3 scale canisters. The proposed canister can contain one PWR assembly. The outer container was also prepared for the string formation of SiC canisters. Thermal conductivity was measured for the SiC canister. The canister had a good thermal conductivity of above $70W{\cdot}m^{-1}{\cdot}K^{-1}$ at $100^{\circ}C$. The structural stability was checked under KURT environment, and it was found that the SiC ceramics did not exhibit any change for the 3 year corrosion test at $70^{\circ}C$. Therefore, it was concluded that SiC ceramics could be a good alternative to carbon steel in application to deep borehole disposal canisters.

본 연구에서는 탄소강 심부시추공 처분용기가 가지는 고온에서의 물성 저하와 내부식성 문제 등을 해결하기 위하여, 열전도도가 우수한 SiC를 이용한 심부시추공 처분용기의 제작 가능성을 살펴보았다. 먼저 사용후핵연료 집합체 1다발을 수용할 수있는 심부시추공 처분용기를 설계하였으며, 설계된 처분용기는 내부 SiC 기밀용기와 취급 편의와 심부정치를 위한 외부 스테인리스 용기로 구성하였다. 그리고 SiC 세라믹 용기의 제작 가능성을 확인하기 위해, 1/3 규모의 소형 SiC 용기를 실제 제작하였다. 제작된 SiC 용기에서 시편을 추출하여 열전도도를 측정하였으며, KURT 지하 $70^{\circ}C$ 고온조건에서 3년간 내구성 시험도 실시하였다. 그 결과 SiC는 $100^{\circ}C$에서도 $70W{\cdot}m^{-1}{\cdot}K^{-1}$ 이상의 열전도도를 보였으며, 내구성 시험 후에도 변화가 전혀 보이지 않았다. 따라서 SiC는 높은 열전도도와 우수한 내부식성을 갖고 있어, 심부시추공 처분용기 재료로 적합하다고 보았다.

Keywords

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