| Abstract Scope |
LiF-BeF₂ (FLiBe) is a promising coolant, fuel, or breeding blanket material for both molten salt and fusion reactor systems. Thermal convection loops (TCLs) provide a controlled system for investigating corrosion in flowing molten salts in a temperature and solubility gradient. However, as we seek to add realism and controls to TCL experiments by including fission products, transmutation gases, and online monitoring, they become more complex, requiring off-line engineering work prior to integration.
For this work, a static molten salt system has been designed to develop salt purification methods, analyze corrosion behavior, and utilize electrochemical measurements in FLiBe. Initial efforts focus on metallothermic reduction using beryllium metal, to remove oxidizing impurities, and control the redox state. In-situ electrochemical monitoring allows for redox analysis in molten FLiBe. Together with TCL exposures, these experiments help establish the foundation for further investigations of molten FLiBe chemistry and corrosion relevant to molten salt reactor technologies. |