Grant: NSERC/NRCan/AECL Generation IV Energy Technologies Program

Concerns with green house gas emissions and the uncertainty in the long-term supply of fossil fuels have resulted in renewed interest in nuclear energy as an essential part of the energy mix for the future. Currently, there is a worldwide effort to develop advanced Generation-IV nuclear reactor technologies with enhanced efficiencies and reduced operating cost. Canada is taking the lead role in the design of the Supercritical Water-Cooled Reactor (SCWR) - one of six reactor designs being considered by the Gen-IV International Forum (GIF). The SCWR design will use supercritical water as coolant in order to achieve high thermodynamic efficiency (i.e., about 45% vs. 33% for current reactors) and plant simplification. In-core coolant will be contained in pressure tubes, in a similar way as in current CANDU designs. One of the major challenges for the development of the SCWR is the long-term stability of the materials in contact with the coolant. At present there is no single alloy that can meet all of the performance requirements in terms of corrosion resistance, mechanical properties, and stability under irradiation. Thus, development of suitable coatings for several key coolant-contacting components is needed. The proposed research will investigate coating compositions designed specifically for SCWR operating conditions, and several coating deposition processes. The outcome of this research is expected to generate new knowledge and expertise in coating development and contribute to the design and fabrication of the SCWR.