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Acoustic Properties of Pb-17Li Alloy for Ultrasonic Doppler Velocimetry

Y. Ueki, M. Hirabayashi, T. Kunugi, T. Yokomine, K. Ara

Fusion Science and Technology / Volume 56 / Number 2 / August 2009 / Pages 846-850

Tritium Breeding / Eighteenth Topical Meeting on the Technology of Fusion Energy (Part 2) / dx.doi.org/10.13182/FST56-846

In a lead-lithium (Pb-17Li) liquid metal blanket concept, Pb-17Li eutectic alloy circulates both as breeder and coolant under a strong plasma-confining magnetic field, experiencing magneto-hydro-dynamic (MHD) force: Lorentz force. An important aspect of the bilateral US/Japan collaboration on Tritium, Irradiations, and Thermofluid for America and Nippon (TITAN) is to investigate tritium behavior and thermal control in the Pb-17Li eutectic alloy, flow and heat transfer characterizations, and mitigation of MHD effects. The present paper focuses on Ultrasonic Doppler Velocimetry (UDV) as an effective diagnostic to measure the Pb-17Li flow in the presence of the strong magnetic field. This paper firstly describes a favorable wetting material for high-temperature transducer. Next, the acoustic property database of Pb-17Li eutectic alloy is presented. Finally, material analyses after high temperature measurements are performed to discuss the durability of titanium transducer.