Study of Novel Super-hydrophobic Surfaces to Mitigate Corrosion, Cracking and Deposition in New Build UK Nuclear Power Plants. [Sponsor - EDF Energy; Fully Funded]

This PhD is part of the EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in "Materials for Demanding Environments" [CDT in M4DE], is sponsored by EDF Energy and will commence October 2017.

Background

Corrosion and subsequent environmental cracking has been a leading cause of failure in structural materials in most industrial applications for hundreds of years. As companies seek higher efficiencies in plant, components are being exposed to ever demanding environments. This is especially true in the power generation industry where materials in next generation plant will be subjected to higher temperatures, pressures and, for the nuclear industry higher radiation dose. Of equal importance to the nuclear industry is safety and specific to this programme is the desire to reduce the radioactive contamination field within plant. While corrosion control is key to the structural integrity of plant, incorporation of radioactive species in corrosion deposits result in an increased collective radiation exposure for workers and limit plant efficiency. Surface treatments can potentially limit release of species from corroding alloys that deposit on fuel elements, impairing performance or becoming a radiation source term upon activation. Unfortunately long term benefits of surface treatment have not been fully realized within the industry. While new modification technologies and coolant chemistries which produce hydrophobic and super-hydrophobic surfaces may have potential to reduce corrosion and incorporation of radioactive species on a surface, they are highly developmental at this time and long-term stability, characteristics and performance under high-temperature and high-pressure conditions is not known.

Project Outline

This study aims to investigate the benefits and limitations of one possible superhydrophobic surface treatment, the use of film-forming amines, in nuclear plant conditions. A superhydrophobic surface has an inherent hierarchical nanostructure and microstructure where gas must be trapped between the surface and the liquid droplet. Unfortunately surfaces with these desired characteristics may not have long-term stability at operating conditions within nuclear plant. Studies of the hydrophobic and superhydrophobic character of the filming amine layers at different temperatures are of utmost importance to assess the mechanism of their interaction with both oxidized surfaces and suspended oxide particles.

In conducting this investigation the student will be able to use the world-class autoclave facilities within the Henry Royce Institute as well as the world-class irradiation facility at the University of Manchester (i.e., the Dalton Cumbria Facility). Specific to the Dalton Cumbria Facility the student will perform in situ irradiation experiments in a bespoke environmental chamber capable of replicating the demanding temperatures and pressures in plant. Characterisation of the modified surfaces both from an electrochemical and structural nature will be a key component in the project. Again the student will be able to utilise the University of Manchester’s impressive facilities which include suites of the latest electron microscopes and analytical equipment, including in situ FTIR, nano-SIMS, and NAP-XPS, to develop mechanistic understanding of the degradation, protective nature, and functionality of these modified surfaces.

It should be noted that the academic supervisor of this project is embedded within the Chemistry Team at EDF’s Barnwood R&D facility. It is envisaged that the student will spend time interacting and possibly embedded within this team for a portion of the studentship.

About EDF Energy

EDF Energy Research and Development (R&D UK) is a centre of technical excellence whose main purpose is helping to build a brighter energy future for the UK. Its vision is to: “Accelerate the transition to a sustainable, low carbon society through the development and testing of new technologies and business models.” EDF Energy is the UK’s largest producer of low-carbon electricity is currently advancing research in the fields of Low Carbon Generation (supporting existing nuclear, nuclear new build and renewables), Modelling and Simulation, Environment and Natural Hazards, Energy System Design, Smart Cities, Local Energy Systems, Energy Storage & Efficiency and Smart Digital Technology. By coupling the advances in science and engineering with the emergence of new digital innovations EDF Energy R&D UK is providing ground breaking solutions to policy makers, partners and customers in order to realise our vision.