Session: CS-15-01 Mechanical Properties of Nuclear Graphite and Their Implementation in Codes and Standards (Joint with MF-29) – 1

Paper Number: 105801

105801 - Effect of Raw Materials and Processing on Nuclear Graphite Properties 

The modern nuclear graphite uses synthetic graphite, which is produced from two major raw materials, coke (as filler material) and pitch (as binder material). Both raw materials are the by-products from petroleum refinery and coking industry. Over the time, the changes in the coke and pitch suppliers and the feedstocks used by these suppliers are inevitable. However, it does not mean that the graphite properties will change in all the cases. The modern graphite manufacturing technology is capable to maintain the final graphite properties consistent in many cases. Due to the lengthy and complicated qualification process, one of the key requirements for the nuclear graphite is its property consistency over the time. It is also very critical to demonstrate and ensure that the graphite being used for reactor construction is still the same grade (having the same property characteristics) qualified decades ago. A question often raised in the AMSE code case, i.e., how to demonstrate the graphite is the same grade. In this presentation, the author will discuss the effect of raw material properties and graphite processing steps on the final graphite properties, then highlight the key aspects shall be evaluated in the graphite qualification process to demonstrate the graphite grade to be the same. The author intends to bridge the gap between the graphite manufacturers and reactor designers through the dialogue to better understand the key factors affecting graphite’s irradiation response and controlling such factors in the graphite manufacturing process.   

Presenting Author: Chong Chen Kairos Power

Presenting Author Biography: Dr. Chong Chen is a carbon material scientist with over 20 years of experience working in the field of carbon and graphite materials. He spent most of his career in graphite industry with the former GrafTech and SGL Carbon, where he led wide range of R&D projects from raw materials, graphite electrode, specialty graphite, carbon fiber to graphite anode powder for Li-ion battery and its commercialization. Chong joined Kairos Power in 2020 to support the as-manufactured graphite qualification including molten salt-graphite interaction.

Authors: