Lithium corrosion/mass transfer test facility

Liquid lithium is a leading candidate as a tritium breeding material for fusion reactors because of its good breeding and heat-transfer characteristics. This paper describes a new experimental facility for investigating the corrosion/mass transfer/deposition mechanisms at characteristic velocities and system temperatures. This test facility, which is constructed of ferritic/martensitic steel (Fe-9Cr-1Mo), simulates conditions projected for a liquid metal heat transport system. The test facility will provide test velocities to 0.5 m/s, and temperatures to 550/degree/C, and system ..delta..T's up to 150/degree/C. The corrosion test region simulates the blanket region with a low inlet temperature and a higher (..delta..T /approximately/ 150/degree/C) outlet temperature. Test specimens in the deposition region provide a measure of the deposition processes that will occur in a heat exchanger as the liquid metal is cooled (..delta..T /approximately/ 150/degree/C). In addition to temperature and flow control, the facility provides for control and monitoring of impurities in the liquid