Nuclear Energy: Materials science and research impact

How does material science help us to keep nuclear power stations operating safely for longer?
In the third of three episodes about the world of nuclear energy production in the UK, the team from the University of Bristol's School of Physics describe the nuclear materials research they undertake and why this is important for lifetime extension and the nuclear industry.
• Read more about how we're working to achieve net zero using nuclear power in our feature story www.bristol.ac.uk/research/im...
• See how you can be part of the net zero solution. Discover our MSc in Nuclear Science and Engineering www.bristol.ac.uk/study/postg...
In this episode, Bristol's academics and researchers attempt to provide clarity on the following questions and topics:
• Lifetime extension is contingent on research into materials degradation
• Safety of lifetime extension
• Nuclear materials: fissionable materials like uranium
• Can also include concrete and stainless steels
• Reactors built in the 1970s are coming to the end of their component lifetimes
• Working closely with EDF
• Advanced Gas Cooled (AGR) reactor fleet lifetime extended by 15 years
• Key components of a nuclear reactor
• Degradation of materials in extreme environments
• 300-550c temperature inside a reactor
• Atoms of components change over time and builds into cracks or failures
• Materials testing done all the way down to the nanometer scale
• Over £20m worth of equipment at Bristol to study materials
• Watched cracks grow over time under a corrosive environment to understand how they form
• Research performed at Bristol generates understanding on mechanisms such as corrosion
• Lifetime extension contributes to net zero targets
• EDF draw on research undertaken at Bristol
00:00 Lifetime extension contingent on research into nuclear materials
00:30 What are nuclear materials?
00:48 AGR lifetime extension
01:11 The key components of a nuclear reactor
01:40 Degradation of materials in extreme environments
02:23 Materials testing all the way down to the nanometer scale
02:24 Research equipment and expertise
02:54 High Speed AFM used to watch cracks grow and form
03:24 Research enabling safe lifetime extension
03:52 Research impact and outro
#nuclear #energy #bristol

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