NSERC / UNENE Research

NSERC and UNENE are sponsoring Industrial Research Chairs (IRC) at the following universities:

• McMaster: NSERC/UNENE IRC in Nuclear Safety Analyses and Thermal Hydraulics
  Dr. John Luxat (IRC), Associate Chair Dr. David Novog
  • Best estimate and uncertainty based nuclear safety analysis; vapour generation and boiling heat transfer; modeling dryout, post-dryout and quench processes; thermal-mechanical behavior of reactor components at high temperature accident conditions; computational fluid dynamics models for two-phase flow.
  • Research Summary (pdf 122kb)
• Queen’s: NSERC/UNENE IRC in Advanced Nuclear Materials
  Prof. Rick Holt (IRC), Associate Chair Dr. M. Daymond
  • Control of microstructure/texture of zirconium alloy tubes; Experimental study of anisotropy and deformation of zirconium alloys; Modeling anisotropy and deformation of zirconium alloys; Effects of deformation on plastic instability and failure; Improvements in measurement of crystallographic texture; Micro-structural characterization and qualification; Experimental study and modeling of macro- and microscopic stress and strain development during manufacture and evolution during service; Theory of radiation damage and in-reactor deformation.
  • Research Summary (pdf 104kb)
• RMC: NSERC/UNENE IRC in Nuclear Fuels
  Dr. Brent Lewis (IRC)
  • Nuclear fuel chemistry, behaviour and performance; physical chemistry of nuclear fuels; defective-fuel monitoring; modelling of nuclear fuel and fission, product release behaviour during normal and reactor accident conditions; fuel performance prediction and reactor safety code analysis; advanced fuel designs for low void reactivity fuel (LVRF) and next Generation IV reactors.
  • Research Summary (pdf 147kb)
• Toronto: NSERC/UNENE IRC in Nano-Engineering of Alloys
  Dr. Roger Newman ( IRC)
  • Mechanisms of oxidation cracking in hot water under reducing conditions; Alloy design for corrosion resistance; Building on atomistic understanding to promote favorable interface structures; Exploiting alloy corrosion processes for the fabrication of useful nano-structured materials; Corrosion and stress corrosion research for Canadian nuclear industry.
  • Research Summary (pdf 103kb)
• UOIT: NSERC/UNENE IRC in Health Physics and Environmental Safety
  Dr. Tony Waker (IRC)
  • Characterization, through real-time modelling and measurements, of sources of ionizing radiation; Experimental and theoretical investigation of techniques to minimize the total radiation fields due to the sources; Development of specialized radiation detection devices, such as micro-dosimeters and real-time extremity monitors; Monitoring and modelling the environmental impacts of ionizing radiation that are produced as a result of the operation of a nuclear facility; On-line dynamic health physics and environmental protection information management system.
  • Research Summary (pdf 198kb)
• Waterloo: NSERC/UNENE IRC in Risk-based Life Cycle Management
  Dr. Mahesh Pandey (IRC)
  • Assessment of life cycle performance of nuclear plant systems, Generation risk analysis, Probabilistic models for condition assessment, system reliability and cost analysis, In-service inspection and maintenance optimization strategies for feeders, steam generators, fuel channels and other balance of the plant systems (e.g., generators, transformers), Stochastic process models for computing failure rates and availability, Statistical analysis of OPEX data to support life cycle management plans.
  • Research Summary (pdf 803kb)
• Western: NSERC/UNENE IRC in Control, Instrumentation and Electrical Systems:
  Dr. Jin Jiang (IRC)
  • Modelling, simulation, control, and diagnosis of nuclear power plants; advanced control strategies, fieldbus, smart instruments; industrial wireless in nuclear power plant applications; evaluation of safety control systems; fault-tolerant design.
  • Research Summary (pdf 448kb)

NSERC and UNENE are sponsoring Collaborative Research and Development (CRD) Grants at follows:

• Queen's: NSERC/UNENE CRD in Measurement of Near-Surface Residual Stress in CANDU Feeders Using Magnetic Non-Destructive Evaluation Techniques (2005-2008)
  Dr. Lynann Clapham
  • The objective of the proposed work is to develop a magnetic non-destructive evaluation (NDE) probe for measuring residual stresses in CANDU feeder pipes. A tool for non-destructively evaluating residual stresses in these feeders is needed, and is the focus of this project.
  • Research Summary (pdf 380kb)
• Guelph: NSERC/UNENE CRD in D2O Isotope Effects on Hydrolysis and Ionization Equilibria in High Temperature Water (2005-2008)
  Dr. Peter Tremaine
  • This project is for a definitive laboratory study to quantify D₂O isotope effects on acid-base ionization and metal hydrolysis over the temperature range 100 to 300°C. The goals are to provide fundamental data and understanding for the difference in equilibrium constant of simple acids and bases between H₂O and D₂O, DpK = {pK(D₂O) - pK(H₂O)}, at high temperatures and pressures; and to provide a model for estimating the magnitude of D₂O isotope effects on metal hydrolysis and metal oxide solubility. Both objectives are relevant to the support and future development of CANDU heavy water reactors and will yield new insights into hydration in high temperature water. Our studies will use a one-of-a-kind hydrothermal AC conductance apparatus; hydrothermal UV-visible spectroscopic flow cells with thermally stable colorimetric pH indicators; and high-temperature standard partial molar volume measurements to determine the solvent isotope effects on equilibrium constants and standard partial molar volumes, DpK and DV°.
  • Research Summary (pdf 96kb)
• McMaster: NSERC/UNENE CRD in Improved Understanding of Inter-sub-channel Thermal Mixing (2005-2007)
  Dr. Marilyn Lightstone
  • This research is concerned with modelling fluid flow and heat transfer in subchannel geometries. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is being used to model the flow pulsations that occur in the gap region of nuclear fuel bundles. Simulations are validated against experiments to assess the validity of the models used, in particular the turbulence models. The long term of the research is to develop an improved understanding of the underlying physics of the flow pulsations. This will then allow for development of simple models which capture the important physical phenomena and can be incorporated into industrial safety analysis codes such as ASSERT-PV. The benefit to industry will be more accurate predictions of fuel sheath temperatures as well as development of highly qualified personnel for potential employment in the nuclear industry.
  • Research Summary (pdf 83kb)
• Toronto: NSERC/UNENE CRD in Liquid film dryout and IBIF in CANDU fuel channels (2007-2010)
  Dr. Masahiro Kawaji
  • The objectives of the research project are to obtain fundamental information on (1) vapour bubble buildup and venting in a horizontal CANDU fuel channel (IBIF phenomenon) following a loss of forced circulation during reactor outages, and (2) the effect of pressure tube sagging on the venting of steam during IBIF incidents, and (3) the liquid film dryout phenomenon leading to Critical Heat Flux (CHF) under steady state operation and certain accident conditions such as a loss of reactor regulation accident. The information collected will be useful for devising viable technologies to enable the CANDU reactor designers and operators to extend the applicability of the existing experimental data on the IBIF phenomena and liquid film druyout, and gain additional safety margins (or return to full-power) and operational flexibility (i.e., shorter reactor outages).
  • Research Summary (pdf 761kb)
• Queen's: NSERC/UNENE CRD in Delayed Hydride Cracking in Zirconium during Heat-up and at Low Temperature (2008-2011)
  Dr. Mark Daymond
  • DHC is a thermally activated 'slow-cracking' mechanism, occurring in Zr-2.5Nb CANDU pressure tubes when hydrogen (deuterium) is found above a critical concentration, diffuses to stress concentrations at a crack tip (or other stress concentrater) and precipitates as hydrides. When these brittle hydrides are large enough, they crack, the crack propagates and arrests at the ductile matrix and the process repeats. Above temperatures of around 200°C the DHC mechanism is reasonably well understood, with observed hydride characteristics and crack velocity in good agreement with model predictions. However, at temperatures below 200°C there is a transition in the DHC behaviour, which is not well understood. Specifically, below ~200°C cracks can be initiated without thermal cycling, and even during heat up; while in the regime above 200°C, it is known that cracks initiate only after cool down. Further, the crack velocity at these lower temperatures is observed to be somewhat higher than would be expected based on extrapolation of data from above 200°C. This may be associated with a phase change in the hydrides (observed at 150-180°C). The project addresses the low temperature (i.e. <200°C) formation of hydrides, and in particular the occurrence of DHC during heat up. This project is carrying out a series of experiments on typical pressure tube microstructure material, for different hydrogen concentrations, stresses, heating rates, dwell temperatures and times.
• Western: NSERC/UNENE CRD in Micro-indentation studies of the local ductility of Zr-2.5Nb CANDU pressure tubes (2007-2010)
  Dr. Robert J. Klassen
  • The objective of this research project is to use microindentation testing techniques; namely spherical- and pyramidal-microindentation, to assess the local mechanical properties of the Zr-2.5Nb alloy used in CANDU pressure tubes. The data from this investigation will allow more accurate predictions to be made of the extent of local stress relaxation occurring as a result of creep deformation around surface flaws, such as scratches and fretting flaws, in CANDU pressure tubes during service and will provide a testing methodology that can potentially be used for in-cell assessment of local variations in the mechanical properties of irradiated fuel channel materials.
  • Research Summary (pdf 94kb)
• Guelph: NSERC/UNENE CRD in D2O Isotope Effects on Ionization, Transition Metal Hydrolysis and Solubility Under CANDU-6 Coolant Conditions (2009-2012)
  Dr. Peter Tremaine
• 5 additionals grants will be announced soon.

UNENE collaborates with the following IRC's:

• Western: Nuclear Chemistry
  (Dr. David Shoesmith)
• Ecole Polytechnique:
  (Dr. Jean Koclas)
• New Brunswick:
  (Dr. Derek Lister)

International Collaborations

• UK-Canada Joint Workshop on Nuclear Skills 6 - 7 March 2006 Toronto
• The Nuclear Energy Working Group, North American Security and Prosperity Partnership Initiative
• China (SJTU, XJTU, NCEPU, Tsinghua U)