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The research question: How Does Radiation Affect the Components in a Nuclear Reactor?

The research question: How Does Radiation Affect the Components in a Nuclear Reactor?. MARY NORRIS, Stephenville high school Lin Shao, Assistant Professor Nuclear engineering texas A&m university. Lin Shao.

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The research question: How Does Radiation Affect the Components in a Nuclear Reactor?

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  1. The research question: How Does Radiation Affect the Components in a Nuclear Reactor? MARY NORRIS, Stephenville high school Lin Shao, Assistant Professor Nuclear engineering texasA&m university

  2. Lin Shao • EducationPh.D., Physics, University of Houston, 2001B.S., Nuclear Physics and Technology, Peking (Beijing) University, P. R. China, 1997 • Areas of Interest • Materials science and nanotechnology • Radiation effects in nuclear and electronic materials • Ion beam analysis • Main Research Group:Nuclear Materials and Fuel Cycles

  3. • Containment Steam generator • • Pressuerizer • Pump • Pressure vessel Pressurized water nuclear reactor

  4. Uranium Enrichment U-238 U235

  5. Fuel Rod and Fuel Assembly

  6. Fission Reaction Stray neutrons cause damage to the metal of surrounding the fuel rods

  7. Interstitial Vacancy Interstitialcy Disloca-tion loop Cluster Damage at the molecular level

  8. Why we care In nuclear reactors, many energetic ions keep bombarding reactor walls. This bombardment can cause bubbles, cracks and voids. This makes the reactor unsafe. We want to know when and how this will happen, but do not want to wait 20 years. Accelerators are used to simulate the environment

  9. Five accelerators ion energy from 10 keV - 1.7 M eV

  10. Ion Beam Analysis RBS - Rutherford Backscattering for depth profiles of complex thin films (up to a few microns thick and down to a few nm depth resolution). PIXE- Particle (usually proton) Induced X-ray Emission (ppm sensitivities). NRA - Nuclear Reaction Analysis (isotope specific). IBIC- Ion Beam Induced Charge. STIM- Scanning transmission ion microscopy. view port Ion beam

  11. Summer Research Particle Ion Irradiation Effects on the Venus FlytrapLeanne Kristek

  12. Implications • Gain insights into possible biological effects on living tissue of Venus flytraps • Possible reasons for dysfunction: • Trigger hair damage • Ion channels inhibited • Identify the critical dose level for noticeable function failure • Understand the signal transfer mechanism in Venus flytraps more comprehensively

  13. Venus Fly Trap with trigger hairs

  14. Data Collection • Record speed of closure before, after, and possibly during proton and alpha irradiation • Use a high speed camera, e64 Hotshot Mic • Use SCRIM program to determine • Energies to use • Number of damage events for each given energy • View structural tomography before and after irradiation to detect ion-solid interaction damage (especially of ion channels, plasmodesmata, and stomata) • Use Scanning Electron Microscope

  15. Question I • If the leaf does indeed close once bombarded with the ion beam, are the ion channels of the plant affected? If so, how? • Ion potentials involve Cl−, K+, Ca2+, and H+ • If the leaf will not reopen, then how to collect data? • Could try using an electrical current to reopen • Could try irradiating soil instead of directly on leaf

  16. Accelerator Attachment • - Faraday Cup • - Scintillation Crystal • Sample Holder

  17. Faraday Cup • Collects charged particles in a vacuum • Minimal to no backscatter • Placed before the Venus Flytrap • Measure the resulting current (I) to determine amount electrons (N) hitting target in time (t):

  18. Scintillation Crystal Ionizing radiation causes luminescence Thus allowing a visual to focus beam

  19. Questions • Does the ion beam act on the sensitive filaments or the cells of the leaf itself? • Do the trigger hairs and/or cells repair themselves? • Signs of repair

  20. Ion & Materials Research Facility (Ion Beam Lab, Accelerator Lab) Lin Shao, Lab Director Thank You!!! Dr. Shao and his staff have been incredibly welcoming and gracious. They have willingly taken time from their busy schedules to help and answer questions whenever I asked. students AsselAitkaliyeva George Wei M.S. students Tianyi Chen Justin General Josey Wallace Undergraduate Lloyd Price Leanne Kristek McIan Amos Danny Galicki Alvaro Aranibar

  21. Additional Thank You’s TAMU E3 Program National Science Foundation Nuclear Power Institute Texas Workforce Commission

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