Assessment of beryllium use in nuclear power generation

Abstract

Abstract Beryllium has extraordinary physical, mechanical, and nuclear properties that make it an ideal material for improving nuclear reactor physics, particularly for compact and high-performance reactors such as fission microreactors and fusion reactors. However, beryllium and its useful oxide have been excluded from commercial power reactors because they are expensive. This review discusses why beryllium is disproportionately more expensive than other metals and presents current opportunities to reduce costs for implementation in advanced nuclear reactors. The cost is primarily caused by the health hazards of beryllium which require extensive infrastructure and procedures to keep personnel safe throughout the entire supply chain and lifecycle. The hazards of beryllium have been discussed elsewhere and are only summarized before discussing practical hazard mitigation strategies. Detection of beryllium contamination is identified as a major challenge that inflates costs of research and industry. Additional costs arise from the supply chain, fabrication, and a relatively small market share for nuclear applications. Available beryllium material forms and manufacturing methods are discussed to assess their potential value to reactor designers along with corrosion and irradiation constraints. Aluminum-beryllium composites and additive manufacturing of beryllium are identified as opportunities to improve the cost of beryllium components, though significant challenges remain.