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Electrochemical Sensor Development for Fluoride Molten Salt Redox Control

Shay, Nikolas W
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu149265579014054

Abstract Details

2017, Master of Science, Ohio State University, Mechanical Engineering.
Investment in nuclear technology is experiencing a revitalization as nuclear power becomes uniquely poised to take the burden left by phasing out fossil fuels to meet climate change goals. The United States Department of Energy is investing in research and development of the Fluoride salt-cooled High-temperature Reactor (FHR) with the ultimate goal of a 2030 deployment. One challenge presented by this reactor is corrosion of the reactor’s structural materials by the molten salt due to foreign and generated impurities. These impurities will shift the reduction-oxidation (redox) potential of the salt beyond the equilibrium potential of candidate structural materials, causing accelerated corrosion. This issue demands control of the molten salt’s redox condition in order to prevent unacceptable levels of corrosion. Research has been conducted on methods for redox control and electrochemical measurement techniques. The limited research that has been conducted related to measurement apparatus either lack certain characteristics specific to application for the FHR reactor or appropriate comparison to demonstrate first rate performance. The primary issue presented by an electrochemical sensor for this application is the selection of an appropriate reference electrode. This report investigates candidate reference electrodes with the purpose of identifying a leading candidate and proposing a holistic electrochemical sensor design which possesses high performance, durability, and ease of use. Candidate reference electrodes are the platinum quasi-reference electrode, dynamic reference electrode, gold/sodium alloy reference electrode, and nickel/nickel(II) reference utilizing a boron nitride sheath. Electrochemical tests show that cyclic voltammetry is a precise technique to measure the concentration of a redox agent. Experiments also show that a quasi-reference electrode is the best suited reference for this application when paired with dynamic operational techniques. This choice of reference allows a full electrochemical sensor to be designed for placement in a molten salt forced convection loop. The design proposed here utilizes a stainless steel or nickel alloy housing, containing a boron nitride cylinder which serves to locate and electrically insulate the three-electrode cell. This proposed design is uniquely suited to meet the demands of redox control in an industrial molten salt application such as an FHR based on its high performance, durability, and ease of use.
Jinsuo Zhang (Advisor)
Marat Khafizov (Advisor)
97 p.
Mechanical Engineering; Nuclear Engineering
molten salt; FHR; redox control; electrochemical sensor; fluoride molten salt; flinak

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Shay, N. W. (2017). Electrochemical Sensor Development for Fluoride Molten Salt Redox Control [Master's thesis, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu149265579014054

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Shay, Nikolas. Electrochemical Sensor Development for Fluoride Molten Salt Redox Control. 2017. Ohio State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu149265579014054.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Shay, Nikolas. "Electrochemical Sensor Development for Fluoride Molten Salt Redox Control." Master's thesis, Ohio State University, 2017. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu149265579014054

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

osu149265579014054
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© 2017, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by The Ohio State University and OhioLINK.