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High-Performance Polymer Solutions In Next-Generation Nuclear Reactors
Handling Rising Challenges In SMRs & Reactor Technologies
Description
By Nathan Handschke (August 2024)
In the nuclear industry where radiation, extreme temperature and pressures are prevalent, reliable sealing solutions such as resilient metal seals are often used, with high-performance polymers rapidly becoming a critical requirement and necessity for performance and leakage control. During severe events, pressure and temperature can sometimes exceed normal ranges by as much as 300%; therefore, components of nuclear power reactors and equipment must be built with strength, reliability, and maintenance in mind.
Historically, nuclear reactors have primarily used spring-energized metal C-Seals and/or metal O-Rings to handle extreme conditions. For developing nuclear reactor technologies, i.e., advanced reactors, small modular reactors (SMRs) or microreactors, another important factor must now be considered, which involves motion or dynamic movement. This operating condition can be successfully addressed by using proven polymer sealing technology such as the proprietary solutions from Omniseal Solutions.
Reacting To Motion & Dynamic Movement
While metal seals can handle minimal vibration, they are limited in their ability to handle dynamic movement due to several key reasons:
Wear and friction: metal-to-metal contact in rotating or reciprocating seals and engineered components can lead to high friction and wear, which can potentially lead to rapid seal failure over a short period of time.
Seal integrity: maintaining a consistent seal under rotating or reciprocating conditions is challenging with metal seals unless the range of motion is extremely limited and slow. Variations in surface imperfections, roughness, or misalignment can also compromise seal integrity. Depending on the leak rate expectations, this could even trigger a shutdown event.
Chemical compatibility: in some cases, especially with advanced reactors, there can be additional environmental hazards such as molten salts that need to be considered. Metal seals in rotating or reciprocating applications could corrode and compromise the seal material, leading to accelerated degradation and potential failure over time.
Needless to say, the introduction of motion significantly affects sealing requirements in upcoming nuclear reactor designs, adding another technical threshold for the nuclear industry, which already has some of the most stringent regulations and operating environments.
Solving Rising Sealing Issues
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How are major nuclear companies reacting to this rising sealing issue? They are partnering with proven engineering and manufacturing companies such as Omniseal Solutions. The business is well known for its wide range of Omniseal® metal seals that are valued in the nuclear, power generation, aviation, and space industries; they are also both resilient metal and polymer sealing experts with customized solutions that manage elevated temperatures and pressure in a wide range of industries. Further, specialty polymers bring added benefits such as wear resistance and the ability to hold tight tolerances.
With decades of experience in customization and proprietary material formulation, Omniseal Solutions can custom engineer a sealing solution for a specific application or technical requirement. By understanding material blends and making modifications to proprietary fillers, their technical team can develop precision seals and advanced materials with optimized characteristics across a broad range to suit different applications.
For example, in the case of addressing motion and dynamic movement within the next generation of nuclear reactors, the business can support customers with high-performance polymer solutions (also known as high-temperature polymers), which provide improved mechanical and/or thermal properties. These high-performance polyimides maintain seal integrity in rotary applications with high radiation and high temperature (temperature spikes as high as 900°F).
Here are several other technology advantages that make these polymer seals a strong and resilient solution for nuclear customers:
Dimensional stability within a wide thermal range
High tensile and compressive strength
Low coefficient of friction and high wear resistance
Excellent chemical and radiation resistance
Good workability (machining)
Enabling Nuclear Customers
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With technical requirements and regulations being pushed even further to adapt to next generation nuclear power reactors, the safety and operation of these reactors depend upon the quality of their components. Often, even the smallest components of nuclear power reactors are critical and should not be overlooked. The effects of radiation on polymer materials must be fully understood in order to design and develop acceptable sealing solutions for these applications.
As a result of motion or dynamic movement being added as a defining factor in newer nuclear reactor designs, there has been a significant evolution in the industry's sealing application requirements. Omniseal Solutions has responded to this demand with their high-performance polymer solutions, specifically engineered to excel in semi-dynamic applications within high radiation and high temperature environments. This advancement underscores the industry's commitment to adapting and evolving to meet the complex demands of modern nuclear technologies.
Contact our experts today to go beyond in your nuclear applications. You can also watch our new videos to see the many systems we protect in this industry.