Research Chairs and Senior Research Fellowships 2023-24
The UK's nuclear industry stands at a critical juncture with the imminent closure of CO2-cooled advanced gas-cooled nuclear reactors (AGRs) and the emergence of new water-cooled reactors alongside advanced fission and fusion technologies. This project will focus on addressing material challenges within the primary coolant circuits spanning the past, present, and future of nuclear power generation.
These coolant circuits are vital for reactor longevity, demanding deep understanding of materials' behavior in the extreme environments of nuclear reactors to ensure both safety and economic viability. Exposure to high temperatures, stresses, irradiation, and corrosive conditions induces nano-scale alterations in material structure over time, posing threats to structural integrity.
In collaboration with EDF, who operate the UK's nuclear reactors, this project will focus on investigating degradation processes in primary coolant circuits across different generations of nuclear power. This endeavor will use state-of-the-art focused ion beam and electron microscopes at the University of Bristol and global facilities, alongside advancements in characterisation and data processing techniques.
During this fellowship, we will study materials from existing AGR fleets to support their remaining operational lifespan, conduct corrosion and chemistry studies for new water-cooled reactor fleets, and explore novel degradation mechanisms in coolants like helium and lead for future fission and fusion reactors. By employing new nano-scale 3D materials analysis methodologies, this research aims to enhance understanding of critical degradation processes, aiding EDF in designing materials, processes, and components for longer-lasting, safer, and lower-emission reactors
Personal website: https://www.tomaslmartin.co.uk/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomas-l-martin-37110a10/
Twitter: @tomaslmartin
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