Preliminary studies on PbO reduction in liquid Pb–Bi eutectic by flowing hydrogen

In the framework of the Italian research program TRASCO for ADS, the device ORE has been designed and operated at the ENEA C.R. Brasimone in order to study the kinetics of lead oxide reduction by flowing hydrogen, diluted at 3% by volume in argon. From the measurement of water generated by the reaction between hydrogen and lead oxide, the rate of PbO reduction was determined and a first estimation of the activation energy was found. The experimental results so far achieved in terms of reaction rate, activation energy and kinetic constant, as well as the experimental set-up and the methodology, are here summarised and discussed.