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

The viability of a supercritical Water Reactor (SCWR) will depend on the selection of appropriate reactorsystem materials and their ability to withstand an extremely demanding environment. Sufficient knowledge todefend predictions of long-term materials performance to owners and regulators requires a well-foundedunderstanding of radiation-induced supercritical water chemistry. The study of supercritical water chemistryunder continuous irradiation is an area of research that is exceedingly sparsely explored. It is, however,important because continuous radiation leads to steady-state chemistry that controls water redox conditions.Experiments will be performed on the steady-state radiolysis of supercritical water. The goal is to obtain datathat will validate radiolysis models for reactor coolant chemistry and thereby provide a basis for coolantchemistry control specifications and reactor material selection.