Consortium aims to forecast life of nuclear reactors

The work will focus on the graphite components of reactors, which are bombarded with high-energy neutrons on a daily basis.

In the current crop of nuclear power stations, the reactor core is surrounded by graphite moderators, which slow down neutrons to speeds most effective for nuclear fission.  

‘As a result of irradiation these bricks swell and cracks develop in them. If they need to be replaced then basically the reactors need to be shut down,’ said Prof Rik Brydson of Leeds University, who is working on the project alongside colleagues from Manchester, Nottingham, Salford, Sussex and Huddersfield universities.

Knowing exactly how the material changes and over what timescale will help engineers predict how long the moderators can do their job properly, how manufacturing processes could be improved and how some of the damage to the graphite blocks might be reversed. The project will also inform the design of a new generation of high-temperature reactors.