Mass transfer of RAFM steel in Li by simple immersion, impeller induced flow and thermal convection

The compatibility of reduced activation ferritic steel, JLF-1, was investigated by the corrosion tests in static lithium (Li), impeller induced Li flow and thermal convection Li. A simple model for corrosion of JLF-1 in Li was based on the equation of mass transfer and mass balance in the corrosion test. Solubility of Cr in Li was evaluated as 37.6 wppm at 500 °C and 77.2 wppm at 600 °C based on the data obtained in corrosion tests in static Li. The mass transfer coefficient of the dissolved Cr from the steel in static Li was experimentally determined to be 4.08 × 10−8 m/s at 500 °C and 1.81 × 10−7 m/s at 600 °C. The mass transfer coefficient for impeller induced flow calculated from Sherwood number and literature value of the diffusion coefficient was 1.34 × 10−4 m/s at 500 °C and 1.40 × 10−4 m/s at 600 °C. Theoretical values for the corrosion loss were compared with values obtained from the experimental data. The mass transfer coefficient determined for the thermal convection loop was 1.73 × 10−5 m/s.