Pb-testing Facility

Tender description

Bangor University wishes to procure the design, construction and installation of a testing facility that can test materials samples in tube form in flowing Pb (5-10 m/s) at temperatures >400C up to 700C (tubular/cylindrical sections ~1cm length ~1cm diameter). In the same setup we wish to perform corrosion testing in static Pb at the same temperatures (sample size ~2.5cm x ~5cm coupons). Oxygen control of the system must be maintained throughout operation with control of 10-8 to 10-5 by weight. Lot 1: Bangor University is part of the BEIS funded Advanced Modular Reactor programme (Phase 2) led by Westinghouse. The reactor type to be considered as part of this project is the Lead-cooled Fast Reactor. The reactor design is focused upon safety and efficiency, with the potential to not only produce electricity but also co-generate (potentially providing cheap and CO2 free hydrogen gas and other valuable products). The main challenges facing the development of the Lead-cooled Fast Reactor relate to material degradation at high temperature and in high velocity flowing Pb. In partnership with Westinghouse and the NNL, we require specialist services in order to design, construct and install a Pb-testing facility here in Bangor University that represents a step change in capability in the UK.