Analysis of fuel element matrix graphite corrosion in HTR-PM for normal operating conditions

The corrosion of spherical fuel element by oxidizing gases will degrade their thermal and mechanical properties in pebble-bed reactors. Oxidizing impurities in primary helium coolant may have significant influence on the gasification of graphite during the long service time even though their concentrations remain relatively low. This paper deals with the corrosion of matrix graphite by steam and oxygen in Chinese high temperature gas-cooled reactor pebble-bed module (HTR-PM). The influence of steam contents was first analyzed, and then the effect of oxygen contents was also taken into account. The results show that the corrosion by steam was weak and it would not threaten the normal service of spherical fuel elements for expected steam contamination levels. On the contrary, the corrosion would be more severe while the oxygen content was as high as currently expected. Finally, the upper limits of steam and oxygen in primary helium coolant were recommended to be 1.0 and 0.05 cm3 m−3.