Study on the Oxidation/Corrosion Behavior of Small Modular Lead-Bismuth-Cooled Fast Reactor Summer

Abstract The issue of corrosion is one of the constraints on the safe operation of the Small Modular Lead-cooled Fast Reactor (SUMMER). In order to understand the oxidation/corrosion behavior of SUMMER during operation and optimize the design to ensure its safe operation, a simulation analysis program, KMC-SUBtra-MC, was employed to simulate SUMMER. The appropriate oxygen control range was theoretically derived, and simulations were conducted at an oxygen concentration of 1 × 10−6 wt.% to calculate the oxidation film thickness, corrosion thickness, and outlet oxygen concentration for both the hottest and average components. It was observed that SUMMER can maintain a dual-phase oxide film structure during operation, and the axial distribution of the oxidation film thickness is temperature-dependent. Oxygen depletion occurred during the initial stages of operation. Pre-oxidation of SUMMER components was found to improve the oxygen depletion situation and reduce the pressure in the oxygen control system.