Abstract:
A method and an apparatus for the treatment of waste ion exchange resins containing radionuclides, and the present invention relates to a method for the treatment of waste ion exchange resins containing radionuclides by the stepwise heat treatment and an apparatus to accomplish the said method.
Abstract:
A zirconium alloy suitable for forming reactor components that exhibit reduced irradiation growth and improved corrosion resistance during operation of a light water reactor (LWR), for example, a boiling water reactor (BWR). During operation of the reactor, the reactor components will be exposed to a strong, and frequently asymmetrical, radiation fields sufficient to induce or accelerate corrosion of the irradiated alloy surfaces within the reactor core. Reactor components fabricated from the disclosed zirconium alloy will also tend to exhibit an improved tolerance for cold-working during fabrication of the component, thereby simplifying the fabrication of such components by reducing or eliminating subsequent thermal processing, for example, anneals, without unduly degrading the performance of the finished component.
Abstract:
A method of surface-treating a reactor member for effectively removing a Cr-deficient layer and a work-hardened layer considered to be a cause of stress-corrosion cracking (SCC) under low-stress conditions. The method of surface-treating a reactor member which is worked by bending (step 1) and then processed by a heat treatment (step 2), in which a work-hardened layer is formed by the bending, and in which a Cr-deficient layer is formed due to an oxide film attached by the heat treatment, uses at least one of: acid wash; grinding; electrolytic polishing; electro-discharge machining; surface cutting; surface deoxidation and softening; wet blasting; laser machining; or surface plating (step 3) to remove the work-hardened layer and the Cr-deficient layer from the reactor member or to prevent contact of the work-hardened layer and the Cr-deficient layer of the reactor member with a primary coolant.
Abstract:
Disclosed herein are zirconium-base alloys excellent in both corrosion resistance and hydrogen absorption property, useful as materials for nuclear reactors. Such a zirconium-base alloy for nuclear reactors comprises 0.5-2 wt. % Sn, 0.07-0.6 wt. % Fe, 0.03-0.2 wt. % Ni, 0.05-0.2 wt. % Cr, and the balance being zirconium and unavoidable impurities, wherein the Fe content (X wt. %) of the zirconium-base alloy and the mean size (Y nm) of precipitates in the zirconium-base alloy are present in a region on the x (Fe content X) and y (mean precipitate size) rectangular coordinates, surrounded by the following five lines: i) Y=−444×X+154, ii) Y=910×X−46, iii) Y=0, iv) Y=300, and v) X=0.6.
Abstract:
An upper hold-down spring structure for a nuclear reactor fuel assembly. A hold down spring 20 mounted on an upper surface of an upper nozzle 11 of a fuel assembly for a pressurized water reactor is composed of an upper plate spring 21 having plastic spring characteristics and a lower plate spring 23, base ends of which are fixed with a fastening bolt 18 at a common position. The upper spring 21 and the lower spring 23 are made of precipitation hardened nickel base alloy and the thickness of the springs are determined so as to keep the stresses generated less sensitive to stress corrosion cracking.
Abstract:
In order to provide an austenitic single crystal stainless steel having preferable stress corrosion cracking resistance, strength, and irradiation induced embrittlement resistance so as to extend the life of a nuclear reactor core structure, which is used under a high radiation dose environment, a method is employed, which comprises the steps of homogeneously dispersing carbides into a parent phase of the austenitic single crystal stainless steel by a two step solution heat treatment, and subsequently effecting an ageing heat treatment after rapid cooling for precipitating fine carbides. Austenitic single crystal stainless steel having preferable stress corrosion cracking resistance, strength, and irradiation induced embrittlement resistance can be provided, and the life of nuclear reactor core structure, which is used under a high radiation dose environment, can be extended.
Abstract:
A fuel rod for a light water reactor comprises a cladding tube which comprises a zirconium alloy having a composition including 0.6 to 2.0% by weight of Nb, 0.5 to 1.5% by weight of Sn, 0.05 to 0.3% by weight of Fe, and the balance being Zr and incidental impurities; uranium oxide fuel pellets packed in the cladding tube; and end plugs closing both ends of the cladding tube. The cladding tube is sealed by TIG welding with the end plugs. Precipitates having grain diameters of 0.01 to 0.5 .mu.m and comprise intermetallic compounds containing Zr, Nb and Fe are present at grain boundaries in the structure of heat affected zones of the cladding tube, the heat affected zone being adjacent to a bead formed by TIG welding.
Abstract:
A method of manufacturing nuclear fuel elements which include fuel rods whose cladding tubes are provided with an internal liner layer to obtain PCT resistance in the nuclear fuel element involves carefully choosing parameters for heat treatment of the inner component even from the machining of an ingot of the inner component. The internal layer of zirconium or a zirconium alloy, suitable as inner layer in a PCI-resistant cladding, from the fabrication of an ingot of the inner component up to the completion of a cladding tube, including forging, rolling, extrusion, heat treatment and final heat treatment, is manufactured in such a way that the temperature in the inner component never exceeds the temperature when an incipient phase transformation to beta phase takes place.
Abstract:
A composite nuclear fuel container for service in water cooled nuclear fission reactor plants having improved resistance to corrosion, and a method of producing same. The invention comprises each component of the fuel container being of specific compositions which have been heat treated to transform their microcrystalline structure in such a manner to optimize the corrosion resistance of each component of the fuel container.
Abstract:
A fuel assembly for a nuclear reactor comprising a fuel cladding tube of three-layer structure having an outer surface in contact with reactor water of the nuclear reactor, an inner surface layer in contact with the nuclear fuel, and an intermediate layer interposed between the outer surface layer and the inner surface layer. the outer surface layer is made of a Zr-based alloy containing Nb, Sn and Mo. The inner surface layer is made of pure zirconium. The intermediate layer is made of a high ductility alloy which is higher in ductility than the outer surface layer and is higher in strength than the inner surface layer.