Quantifying Multidimensional Transport Effects on Permeability Inference in FLiBe Systems Using a Validation-Informed Modeling Framework

TL;DR

This study develops a multi-dimensional modeling framework to accurately interpret hydrogen isotope permeability in molten salts, revealing the limitations of traditional one-dimensional approaches.

Contribution

It introduces a validation-informed inverse modeling framework that accounts for complex transport pathways and boundary conditions in permeability inference.

Findings

Model captures permeation fluxes across temperature range 773-973K.

Permeability estimates vary significantly with boundary condition assumptions.

Lateral transport and leakage pathways are significant and not captured by 1D models.

Abstract

Permeability of hydrogen isotopes in molten salts is commonly inferred from permeation experiments using simplified one-dimensional interpretations, which may not capture the coupled transport pathways present in realistic systems. In this work, a multi-dimensional, multi-material hydrogen isotope transport modeling framework implemented in FESTIM is benchmarked against permeation measurements from the HYPERION experiment conducted at the MIT Plasma Science and Fusion Center.The model explicitly resolves transport across molten salt and nickel structures, as well as external boundary conditions, enabling system-level interpretation of the measured permeation fluxes over the temperature range 773-973K. Rather than relying on idealized one-dimensional formulations for permeability estimation, this study employs a validation-informed inverse framework to assess how multidomain transport and external boundary assumptions influence the permeability inferred from experimental fluxes.Two limiting external boundary conditions, representing ideal coating and uncoated vessel behavior, are used to define a physically motivated envelope for hydrogen isotope exchange with the environment.The model captures the observed magnitude and temperature dependence of permeation fluxes under both conditions, while revealing significant lateral transport and sidewall leakage pathways that are not represented in one-dimensional interpretations.The inferred FLiBe permeability exhibits consistent Arrhenius behavior but spans a range that depends strongly on the assumed boundary conditions, demonstrating that using one-dimensional formulations to describe a permeation experiment may not be adequate to extract accurate permeability.These results provide a physically grounded framework for interpreting permeation measurements in coupled liquid-metal systems and highlight the importance of multidomain transport modeli