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High Temperature Irradiation Resistant Thermocouples

Technology Benefits: Rawmaterials cost 0.1% to 75% the cost of raw materials compared to industrystandard for high temperature TCs (Platinum/Rhodium, Tantalum, Nickel alloys) In2016, Niobium cost somewhere less than $100/kg (65%Nb ferritic alloywas $42/kg) and Molybdenumwas $17/kg, compared to over $33000/kg for Platinumand $21000/kg for Rhodium,the two constituents of the industry standard for measuring over 1000 C. Tungsten/Rheniumis $30 and $2500 per kg.Greaterstability at high temperaturesLessdriftSlowerembrittlementSmallerchanges under neutron irradiation than traditional Thermocouple materials

Technology Application: NuclearapplicationsHigh-temperatureindustrial applicationsElectricalpower productionChemicalprocessing and refiningMetalfabrication, including steelsGlassand ceramic productionJetenginesGasificationunitsIncineratorsTurbines

Detailed Technology Description: Researchers at INL havedeveloped methods for forming TCs by swaging the ends of each lead together,avoiding the welding and thermal cycling embrittlement issues that conventionalTCs suffer from. The INL TCs are also made of different materials (Mo-Nb),which are more stable at high temperatures than conventional TC materials. Ofparticular note, these materials are significantly more neutron transparentthan conventional TC materials, making them good candidates for nuclearapplications. Molybdenum and niobium additionally tend to be significantly lessexpensive than traditional TC materials, meaning TCs of this type should beless costly than traditional TCs.

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LICENSINGOPPORTUNITY:

IdahoNational Laboratory (INL) and its M&O Contractor Battelle Energy Alliance,LLC (BEA) are currently looking for commercialization partner(s) interested inentering into a license agreement for the purpose of commercializing thetechnology described below.

INTELLECTUALPROPERTY STATUS:

This invention has associated intellectual property USPatent No. 7,871,198, BEA Docket No. BA-142: “High Temperature ThermocoupleDesign and Fabrication,” issued 18 January 2011.

DEVELOPMENTSTATUS:

This technology has been tested and validated at thebench scale. Additional development will be required to demonstrate a pilotscale process. BEA may be in a position to support additional research anddevelopment of this technology under a mutually acceptable Cooperative Research& Development Agreement (CRADA), Strategic Partnership Projects (SPP)agreement, or a similar agreement, all of which are subject to approval by DOE.

Publications:

Conference:“Enhanced In-PileInstrumentation for Materials Testing Reactors,”In-Pile Testing and Instrumentation for Development of Generation IV Fuels andMaterials, Halden, Norway, August 2012
Report:“New In-PileInstrumentation to Support Fuel Cycle Research and Development,”INL/EXT-10-19149, 2011
Paper:“New Sensors forthe Advanced Test Reactor National Scientific User Facility,”IEEE Transactions on Nuclear Science, Volume 57 Issue 5, October 2010, pp2653-2661
Conference:“High TemperatureIrradiation-Resistant ThermocouplePerformance Improvements,” NPIC-HMIT 2009 KnoxvilleTennessee conference, April 2009
Paper:“Initial Resultsfrom Investigations to Enhance the Performance of High TemperatureIrradiation-Resistant Thermocouples,” Journal of Powerand Energy Systems, volume 2, Issue 2, pp 854-863, 2008.
Paper:“Extension wirefor high temperature irradiation resistant thermocouples,”Measurement Science and Technology, Volume 19, Number 4, February 2008
TechnicalPaper: “Thermocouples forHigh-Temperature In-Pile Testing,” NuclearTechnology, Volume 156, 2006, Issue 3
Report:Evaluation of Specialized Thermocouples forHigh-Temperature In-Pile Testing, US Office of Nuclear Energy,Science, and Technology, 2006.
Conference:“Thermocouples forHigh Temperature In-Pile Testing,” Nuclear Technology156(3), November 2005

*Abstract: TECHNOLOGYMARKETING SUMMARY:
Accurate measurement ofhigh temperatures (1100-1700° C) is important to safe, efficient, andeconomical operation in many industries. Thermocouples (TCs) are the mostwidely used industrial temperature sensors because they are rugged, affordable,and initially accurate. However, all commercial TCs are unstable in thistemperature range, and are prone to decalibration or “drift”, providingincreasingly unpredictable readings as they age. TCs also typically becomebrittle during prolonged use in this temperature range, leading to mechanicalfailure as they are subjected to system vibration and thermal expansion andcontraction. As a similar problem, TCs are usually welded at the junction, andthe heat of welding can lead to embrittlement and premature failure.
Currently, only a fewtypes of thermocouples, usually made of expensive materials like platinum, canbe used in these temperatures. Solutions to drift include frequent TCreplacement and redundant instrument clusters, both costing significant timeand money.

Country/Region: USA

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