BeO Utilization in Reactors for the Improvement of Extreme Reactor Environments - A Review

Abstract

Ceramic material is one of the essential materials used in reactors. Beryllium oxide ceramics have good high-temperature radiation stability, high density, high strength, and thermal conductivity at high temperatures, and the price of beryllium oxide is relatively moderate. This makes it more suitable for use as a reflector, moderator, and dispersion phase fuel matrix in a reactor. In recent years, beryllium oxide has attracted widespread attention due to its high hardness, high resistivity, high thermal conductivity, high melting point, and high radiation resistance. Because of its excellent mechanical properties, beryllium oxide materials also have a long history in the field of nuclear energy. Reactor extreme environments have become a significant challenge for optimizing reactor operation and safety performance. The utilization of beryllium oxide can significantly alleviate extreme reactor environments. According to research, the coupling of beryllium oxide material can effectively improve nuclear fuels' thermal conductivity, such as uranium dioxide. Beryllium oxide also has good radiation resistance and neutron scattering properties, which increases its applications in nuclear energy. The article comprehensively reviews the BeO utilization approaches in reactors to improve extreme reactor environments for current reactor operation and future reactor design optimization.

Hydroxylherderite (Ca2Be2P2O8(OH)2) stability under extreme conditions (up to 750°C/100 GPa)

“…One of the most widely used Be‐containing materials is BeCu alloys, which have high strength 1 . Besides, BeO, as a member of ceramic materials, also has high radiation, chemical, and temperature stability 2,3 . As a consequence, a number of BeO studies under different extreme conditions were performed 4–7 .…”

“…1 Besides, BeO, as a member of ceramic materials, also has high radiation, chemical, and temperature stability. 2,3 As a consequence, a number of BeO studies under different extreme conditions were performed. [4][5][6][7] For these reasons, Be is on the "strategic and critical materials" list of the US Department of Defense and of the European Union.…”

Synthesis, Structural Characterization, and Bonding of Molecular Heavier Beryllium Chalcogenides

“…[33][34][35] Finally, CS 2 was shown to insert into BeÀ N bonds to yield the corresponding dithiocarbamates (Figure 1c). [36] Overall, only three organosulfide beryllium complexes have been structurally authenticated, [24,33,34] and no examples of heavier organoselenide or -telluride complexes are known to date.…”

Solubility and diffusivity of hydrogen and its isotopes in the BeO system

“…In the nuclear field, its large neutron cross‐section makes beryllium oxide suitable for applications as a neutron moderator and reflector 3 . Moreover, this ceramic has also been suggested as an additive substance to uranium dioxide in the accident tolerant fuel (ATF) concept 4 .…”

“…In the nuclear field, its large neutron crosssection makes beryllium oxide suitable for applications as a neutron moderator and reflector. 3 Moreover, this ceramic has also been suggested as an additive substance to uranium dioxide in the accident tolerant fuel (ATF) concept. 4 Because of its interactions with neutrons, a possible application as a tritium breeder blanket in the field of nuclear fusion was explored.…”