• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.28 no.7
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• pp.467-472
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• 2015

Thermal batteries are primary power sources for military applications requiring high reliability, robustness and long storage life. Conventional electrodes for thermal batteries are prepared by compacting powder mixtures into pellets. Separator is composed of halide mixture, such as LiCl-KCl eutectic salt, blended with MgO to immobilize the molten salt. In order to increase the power density and energy density, the resistance of electrolyte should be reduced because the resistance of electrolyte is predominant in thermal batteries. In this study, wetting behaviors and impregnation weight of molten salts as well as the micro structures of ceramic felt were investigated to be applicable to thin electrolyte. Discharge performances of single cell with the ceramic separator impregnated by molten salt were evaluated also. Zirconia felt with high porosity and large pore outperformed alumina felt in wetting characteristics and molten salt impregnation as well as discharge performances. Based on the results of this study, ceramic felt separator impregnated with molten salt have revealed as an alternative of conventional thick MgO based separator with no conspicuous sign of thermal runaway by short circuit.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.34 no.12
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• pp.1093-1099
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• 2010

For Very High Temperature Reactors (VHTR), the designs of the Intermediate Heat Transport Loop (IHTL) and the Intermediate Heat Exchanger (IHX) are particularly difficult because of the high-temperature operation (up to $950^{\circ}C$). In this study, Flinak molten salt, a eutectic mixture of LiF, NaF, and KF (46.5:11.5:42.0 mole %) is considered as the heat transporting fluid in the IHTL. To evaluate the flow and heat transfer performance of the Flinak molten salt in small channels with hydraulic diameters in the millimeter range, a double-pipe heat exchanger was constructed using small-diameter tubes for the heat exchange between the Flinak and the gas flow. The experimental data showed that, for laminar Flinak flow, the measured friction factors were close to the 64/Re curve and the Nusselt numbers were generally between 3.66 and 4.36.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.54 no.4
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• pp.1161-1166
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• 2022

Green pitch coke with an average particle size of 2 mm was adopted as densifier and added to the raw materials of conventional A3-3 matrix graphite (MG) to prepare modified A3-3 matrix graphite (MMG) by the quasi-isostatic molding method. The structure, mechanical and thermal properties were assessed. Compared with MG, MMG had a more compact structure, and exhibited improved properties of higher mechanical strength, higher thermal conductivity and better molten salt barrier performance. Notably, under the same infiltration pressure of 5 atm, the fluoride salt occupation of MMG was only 0.26 wt%, whereas it was 15.82 wt% for MG. The densification effect of green pitch coke endowed MMG with improved properties for potential use in the spherical fuel elements of molten salt reactor.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.55 no.4
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• pp.1324-1331
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• 2023

In the present work, we carried out a molecular dynamics study of the kinetic properties of the FLiNaK molten salt, as well as a detailed study of the structure of this salt melt. The high value of the self-diffusion coefficient of fluorine ions is due to the large number of Coulomb repulsions between the most numerous negative ions. The calculated values of shear viscosity are in good agreement with the experimental data, as well as with the reference data obtained on the basis of finding the most reliable data. The total and partial functions of the radial distribution are calculated. According to the statistical analysis, fluorine ions have the greatest numerical diversity in the environment of similar ions, and sodium ions with the lowest representation in FLiNaK, have the least such diversity. For the subsystem of fluorine ions, the rotational symmetry of the fifth order is the most pronounced. Some of the fluorine ions form linear chains consisting of three atoms, which are not formed for positive ions. The results of the work give an understanding of the behavior molten FLiNaK under operating conditions in a molten salt reactor and will find application in future studies of this molten salt.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.62-68
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• 1986

$(Pb_{1-x} La_x)(Zr_{0.65} Ti_{0.35})_{1-x/4}O_3$ (PLZT X/65/35) powders were prepared by molten salt synthesis using NaCl-K Cl and conventional calcining of oxides. The effects of molten salt on formation and charactrization of PLZT powder and on dielectric piezolectric and optical properties of PLZT ceramics were studied, The completed PLZT powder formation in the presence of fused salt was attained at 50-10$0^{\circ}C$ lower temperature than that in solid state reaction and the particle size of the powder made by molten salt synthesis was markedly increased with increasing calcining temperature. The substitution of Na and/or K ions in NaCl-KCl for Pb ion in process of molten salt synthesis was increased with increasing La concentration Z. These substituted Na and/or K ions were identified as the origins of decreasing coupl-ing factor and optical transmittance of PLZT ceramics.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.51-58
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• 2020

Despite the recent growth of interest in molten salt reactor technology and the crucial role which heat transfer plays in the design of power reactors, specific studies on the design of heat exchangers for the Molten Salt Fast Reactor have not yet been performed. In this work we deliver a preliminary but quantitative analysis of the intermediate heat exchangers, based on reference design data from the SAMOFAR H2020-Euratom project. Two different promising reference technologies are selected for study thanks to their compactness features, the Printed Circuit and the Helical Coil heat exchangers. We present preliminary design results for each technology, based on simplified design tools. Results highlight the limiting effects of the compactness constraints imposed on the fuel salt inventory and the allowed size. Large pressure drops on both flow sides are to be expected, with negative consequences on pumping power and natural circulation capabilities. The small size required for the flow channels also represents possible fabrication issues and safety concerns regarding channel blockage.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.481-487
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• 2009

In this of study, effects of input air velocity(0.05~0.22 m/sec) and molten carbonate salt temperature ($870{\sim}970^{\circ}C$) on flow regime transition have been studied by adopting a drift-flux model of air holdup and a stochastic analysis of differential pressure fluctuations in an air-molten sodium carbonate salt two-phase system(molten salt oxidation process). Air holdup where the flow regime transition begins was determined by air holdup-drift flux plot. The air holdup value which the flow regime transition begins was increased with increasing molten carbonate salt temperature due to the decrease of viscosity and surface tension of molten carbonate salt. To characterize the flow regime transition more quantitatively, differential pressure fluctuation signals have been analyzed by adopting the stochastic method such as phase space portraits and Kolmogorov entropy, The Kolmogorov entropy decreased with an increasing of molten carbonate salt temperature but increased gradually with an increase in an air velocity, however, it exhibited different tendency with the flow regime and the air velocity value which flow regime transition begins was same to the results of drift-flux analysis.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.155-160
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• 2005

The electrolytic reduction of spent oxide fuel involves the liberation of oxygen in a molten LiCl electrolyte, which results in a chemically aggressive environment that is very corrosive fir typical structural materials. So, it is essential to choose the optimum material f3r the process equipment handling molten salt. In this study, the corrosion behavior of Al-Y coated Haynes 263 in a molten salt of $LiCl-Li_2O$ under oxidation atmosphere was investigated at $650^{\circ}C$ for $72\~168$ hours. The corrosion rate of Al-Y coated Haynes 263 was low while that of bare Haynes 263 was high in a molten salt of $LiCl-Li_2O$. Al-Y coated Haynes 263 improved the corrosion resistance better than bare Haynes 263 alloy. An Al oxide layer acts as a protective film which Prohibits Penetration of oxygen. Corrosion Products were formed $Li(Ni,Co)O_2$ and $LiTiO_2$ on bare Haynes 263, but $LiAlO_2,\;Li_5Fe_5O_8\;and\;LiTiO_2$ on Al-Y coated Haynes 263.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.9 no.10
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• pp.985-991
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• 1999

Corrosion behaviors of Incoloy 800H, KSA(Kaeri Superalloy)-6, Inconel 600 and Hastelloy C-276 in molten salts were investigated in the temperature range of 650 ~ $850^{\circ}C$. Due to $\textrm{Li}_{2}\textrm{O}$-induced basic fluxing mechanism, the corrosion rates of the alloys in mixed molten salt of LiC1-$\textrm{Li}_{2}\textrm{O}$ were significantly higher than those in molten salt of LiCl. In the mixed molten salt, Fe-base alloys showed higher corrosion resistance than the Ni-base alloys. and Hastelloy C-276 with high Mo and W contents exhibited the highest corrosion rate among the examined alloys. The single layer of $\textrm{LiCrO}_{2}$ was formed in molten salt of LiCl and two phase structure of a scale consisted of oxides and Ni was formed in the mixed molten salt.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.27 no.8
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• pp.528-534
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• 2014

Thermal batteries are primary reserve batteries that use inorganic salt as electrolytes which are inactive at room temperature. The two principal heat sources that have been used in thermal batteries are heat paper and heat pellets. As soon as the heat paper, which is ignited by the initiator, in turn ignites the heat pellets, all the solid electrolytes are melted into excellent ionic conductors. However, the high combustion temperature by heat papers in thermal batteries causes thermal decomposition at the cathode, eventually leading to a thermal runaway. In this paper, we have attempted to prepare $Zr/BaCrO_4$ heat papers coated with KCl molten salt. We have also investigated the effect of a molten salt coating on the heat papers through the thermal characteristics such as calorimetric value, combustion temperature and burning rate. The calorimetric value and combustion temperature of heat papers were reduced with an increase in the molten salt coating. As a result, the molten salt coating on heat papers greatly reduced risk of a thermal runaway and improved the stability of thermal batteries.