Determination of Specific Heat of Eutectic Indium – Bismuth-Tin Liquid Metal Alloys as a Test Material for Liquid Metal - Cooled Applications

Abstract:

Currently, Russia, India, China, France, South Korea, and Japan are actively pursuing liquid metal cooled applications such as liquid cooled metal nuclear reactor concepts. The liquid metal coolants being considered for these designs are sodium, lead and lead-bismuth eutectic; these designs utilize reactive and toxic materials at temperatures up to 1073 K for nuclear power plant operations and other similar applications. To simulate these systems with the actual coolant material requires a high level of safety systems. Use of these materials in university experimental laboratory settings is difficult due to the safety hazards and that lead (Pb) is a designated substance requiring special permission to use. Therefore, a less toxic and less reactive liquid metal that can be used to simulate liquid metal cooled flows will allow for a greater number of investigations and experimentation of liquid metal flow with regards to the field of thermal hydraulics. Good candidates for a liquid metal experimental fluid are alloys from the indium-bismuth-tin system such as Fields metal, which by weight percent is 51% indium, 32.5% bismuth and 16.5% tin and possesses a melting temperature of 333 K. However, the thermodynamic properties of Fields metal and similar alloys in their liquid state are not well described in literature. This work experimentally measures the specific heat of the eutectic alloys of theindium-bismuth-tin tertiary system using a differential scanning calorimeter technique and analyzes the results to determine if the thermodynamic properties of the system have sufficient scaling for experimental modeling applications. The results verify the melting temperatures of the alloys and establish a relationship between temperature and specific heat.

• Periodical: Applied Mechanics and Materials (Volume 420)
• Pages: 185-193
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMM.420.185
• Online since: September 2013
• Authors: Adam Lipchitz, Glenn Harvel, Takeyoshi Sunagawa
• Keywords: Eutectic Alloys, Liquid Metal Cooled Nuclear Reactors, Liquid Metals, Specific Heat

References

[1] (2010) Gen IV International Forum. [Online]. http: /www. gen-4. org.

[2] M. Matsuura, M. Hatori , and M. Ikeda, Design and modification of steam generator safety system for FBR MONJU, Nuclear Engineering and Design, vol. 237, pp.1419-1428, (2007).

DOI: 10.1016/j.nucengdes.2006.09.046

[3] N. Tanatugu, Y. Fuji-E, and T. Suita, Frictional pressure drop for NaK-N2 two-phase flow in rectangular cross section channel of large aspect ratio, Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology, vol. 10, no. 4, pp.219-226, (1973).

DOI: 10.1080/18811248.1973.9735409

[4] J.M. Tourneir and M. El-Genk, Reactor lithium heat pipes for HP-STMCs Space Reactor Power System, in Space Technology and Advances International Forum, (2004).

DOI: 10.1063/1.1649644

[5] International Atomic Energy Agency, Status Report: Super-Safe, Small and Simple Reactor (4S), IAEA, Vienna, 76, (2011).

[6] K. Uchimura, G.D. Harvel, T. Matsumato, M. Kanzaki, and J.S. Chang, An image processing approach for two-phase interfaces visualized by a real-time neutron radiography technique, Flow Measurement and Instrumentation, vol. 9, pp.203-210, (1998).

DOI: 10.1016/s0955-5986(98)00030-2

[7] T. Hibiki et al., Study of flow characteristics in gas-molten metal mixture pool, Nuclear Engineering and Design, vol. 196, pp.233-245, (2000).

DOI: 10.1016/s0029-5493(99)00293-9

[8] A. Lipchitz, L. Laurent, and Harvel G.D., Suitability of Eutectic Field's Metal for use in an Electromagnetohydrodynamically-enhanced Experimental Two-Phase Flow Loop, in 20th International Conference on Nuclear Engineering, Anaheim, USA., (2012).

DOI: 10.1115/icone20-power2012-54103

[9] P. Roy, R.L. Orr, and R. Hultgren, The thermodynamics of bismuth-lead alloys, Journal of Physical Chemistry, vol. 64, no. 8, pp.1034-1037, (1960).

DOI: 10.1021/j100837a017

[10] A. Terlain, Thermodynamic relationships and heavy metal interaction with other coolants, in Handbook on lead-bismuth eutectic alloy and lead proerties, material compatibility, thermal-hydraulics and technologies., 2007, ch. 3, pp.100-127.

[11] V. Sobolev and G. Benamati, Thermophysical and electrical properties, in Handbook on lead-bismuth eutectic alloy and lead properties, material compatibility, thermal-hydraulics and technologies.: OECD, 2007, ch. 2, pp.25-99.

DOI: 10.1787/42dcd531-en

[12] K.A. Shaikh, S. Li, and C. Liu, Development of a latchable microvalve employing a low melting temperature metal alloy, Journal of Micoelectromechanical Systems, vol. 17, no. 5, pp.1195-2003, (2008).

DOI: 10.1109/jmems.2008.2003055

[13] Indium Corporation, Indalloy Specialty Alloys Properties Chart, (2011).

[14] R. Hultgren, Selected Values of the Thermodynamic Properties of Binary Alloys. Metals Park, Ohio, USA: ASM, (1973).

[15] W.D. Callister Jr., Fundamentals of Materials Science and Engineering, 2nd ed. Hoboken, USA: John Wiley & sons, (2005).

[16] V.T. Witusiewicz, U. Hect, B. Bottger, and S. Rex, Thermodynamic re-optimisation of the Bi-In-Sn system based on new experimental data, Journal of Alloys and Compounds, vol. 428, pp.115-124, (2007).

DOI: 10.1016/j.jallcom.2006.03.050

[17] A. Schilling and O. Jeandupeux, High-accuracy differential thermal analysis: A tool for calorimetric investigations on small high-temperature-superconductor specimens, American Physical Society Physical Review B, vol. 52, no. 13, pp.51-61, (1995).

DOI: 10.1103/physrevb.52.9714

[18] A. Maitre, J.M. Fiorani, and M. Vilasi, Thermodynamic study of phase equilibria in the Pb-Bi-Hg system, Journal of Phase Equilibria, vol. 23, no. 4, pp.329-338, (2002).

DOI: 10.1361/105497102770331578

[19] TA Instruments, Differential Scanning Calorimetry.

[20] T. Sunagawa, A. Lipchitz, and G.D. Harvel, Study of eutectic low melting alloy using In, Bi and Sn, Fukui University of Technology Journal, (2013).

[21] M.J. Richardson, Specific heat capacities, Kaye & Laby, National Physical Laboratory, (2013).