Palladium-Silver Membrane Assembly Manufacturing and Testing

UKFE seeks a supplier to demonstrate the manufacturability of palladium-silver membrane assemblies for hydrogen separation and recovery in the STEP Fuel Cycle system. The work involves four main manufacturing process development areas: (1) annealing trials to refine temperature and time parameters; (2) brazing trials to join membrane tubes to steel fittings; (3) diffusion bonding trials as an alternative joining method; and (4) assembly manufacturing using the optimized processes. All work must include comprehensive material characterization and testing, including microscopy analysis and hardness testing at each stage to evaluate the effects of manufacturing processes on alloy properties. The supplier must also conduct destructive testing of sample assemblies to validate joint quality and microstructural integrity. Tube characterization of incoming material batches is required, followed by development of inspection and quality regimes for final assemblies. Successfully manufactured membrane assemblies will be delivered to UKFE for subsequent functional testing in the fuel cycle system.