Grant: NSERC/NRCan/AECL Generation IV Energy Technologies Program
St. Francis Xavier University
$70,020.00
Time-resolved structural and chemical investigations of metal oxide - water systems under conditions of extreme temperature, pressure and radiation
FY 2015-16
Summary
In situ x-ray and Raman spectroscopic techniques will be used to directly probe the structure and composition of selected metal oxide-water systems in hydrothermal diamond anvil cells at conditions of extreme temperature (300-700 degrees C), pressure, and radiation. The proposed experiments will address three important questions pertaining to corrosion and corrosion product transport in supercritical water cooled reactors. These are: (1) What is the solubility of chromium(III) oxide (eskolaite) in hydrogen peroxide-bearing supercritical water? (2) How might metal oxide nanoparticles participate in corrosion product transport? And, (3) What is the effect of irradiation on the structure and stability of aqueous transition metal complexes in supercritical water? Time-resolved, energy-dispersive x-ray absorption spectroscopy (ED-XAS) will be used in this study for the first time to monitor (with microsecond resolution) the effects of synchrotron x-ray induced radiolysis on the local structure and valence state of transition metal ions in supercritical water. X-ray absorption spectroscopy will also be used to investigate the reaction between Cr and Fe nanoparticles and transition metal aqua ions in supercritical water. Synchrotron x-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (SXRF) will be used to directly determine the composition of fluids at elevated temperatures and pressures in the hydrothermal diamond anvil cell. The anticipated results will significantly advance our understanding of the interaction of aqueous fluids with candidate materials and the transport of corrosion products in aqueous fluids at conditions relevant to GEN IV operating conditions. The research will also provide new thermochemical data for a database that is needed to quantitatively predict and control water chemistry in order to minimize material degradation and corrosion product transport at high temperatures.
Program
NSERC/NRCan/AECL Generation IV Energy Technologies Program
Recipient
Location
Nova Scotia, Canada
Recipient Type
Academia
Type
Grant
Source
NSERC's Awards Data
As published
Application id
424110-2011
Name nom
Anderson, Alan
Department département
Earth Sciences
Organization id
83
Institution établissement
St. Francis Xavier University
Province en
Nova Scotia
Province fr
Nouvelle-Écosse
Country en
CANADA
Country fr
CANADA
Fiscal year exercice financier
2015
Competition year année de concours
2011
Award amount
70020
Program id
NNAPJ
Program name en
NSERC/NRCan/AECL Generation IV Energy Technologies Program
Program name fr
Programme des technologies énergétiques de quatrième génération CRSNG RNCan EACL
Group en
Research partnerships programs
Group fr
Programmes de partenariat
Committee code
96
Committee name en
RPP Internal Decision Cttee
Committee name fr
Cté de décision interne - PPR
Area of application code
306
Area of application group en
Energy resources
Area of application group fr
Ressources d'énergie
Area of application en
Energy efficiency
Area of application fr
Efficacité énergétique
Research subject code
4202
Research subject group en
Geochemistry and geochronology
Research subject group fr
Géochimie et géochronologie
Research subject en
Trace element geochemistry
Research subject fr
Géochimie des oligo-éléments
Partie
4
Nb partie
4
Application title
Time-resolved structural and chemical investigations of metal oxide - water systems under conditions of extreme temperature, pressure and radiation
Keyword
NSERC
Application summary
In situ x-ray and Raman spectroscopic techniques will be used to directly probe the structure and composition of selected metal oxide-water systems in hydrothermal diamond anvil cells at conditions of extreme temperature (300-700 degrees C), pressure, and radiation. The proposed experiments will address three important questions pertaining to corrosion and corrosion product transport in supercritical water cooled reactors. These are: (1) What is the solubility of chromium(III) oxide (eskolaite) in hydrogen peroxide-bearing supercritical water? (2) How might metal oxide nanoparticles participate in corrosion product transport? And, (3) What is the effect of irradiation on the structure and stability of aqueous transition metal complexes in supercritical water? Time-resolved, energy-dispersive x-ray absorption spectroscopy (ED-XAS) will be used in this study for the first time to monitor (with microsecond resolution) the effects of synchrotron x-ray induced radiolysis on the local structure and valence state of transition metal ions in supercritical water. X-ray absorption spectroscopy will also be used to investigate the reaction between Cr and Fe nanoparticles and transition metal aqua ions in supercritical water. Synchrotron x-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (SXRF) will be used to directly determine the composition of fluids at elevated temperatures and pressures in the hydrothermal diamond anvil cell. The anticipated results will significantly advance our understanding of the interaction of aqueous fluids with candidate materials and the transport of corrosion products in aqueous fluids at conditions relevant to GEN IV operating conditions. The research will also provide new thermochemical data for a database that is needed to quantitatively predict and control water chemistry in order to minimize material degradation and corrosion product transport at high temperatures.
