Overview
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ABSTRACT
Subjected to extremely harsh operating conditions as well as mechanical chemical and thermal solicitations, the materials used in reactors of the PWR type must comply with highly specific constraints. Indeed, the cladding tubes are selected in compliance with requirements inherent to the production of energy and also with characteristics specific to metallic materials, such as notably a high resistance to corrosion and a low hydriding, a high ductility, a chemical compatibility between materials (fuel/cladding, cladding/coolant). Made of zirconium-base alloys, cladding tubes must ensure the maintenance of the fuel column, the insulation of the fuel from the heat-transfer fluid in order to protect it from its corrosive action and the evacuation of energy.
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Read the articleAUTHOR
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Jean-Paul MARDON: AREVA's international expert
INTRODUCTION
The operating and design principles of PWR-type reactors impose constraints on the fuel in terms of the materials used and their geometry. Materials are selected to ensure that the fuel meets design and safety criteria.
Two main classes of materials are used in the manufacture of fuel elements: ceramics and metal alloys. As these materials are subject to very severe operating conditions, their justification under current and future service conditions requires :
in-depth knowledge of the phenomena that develop in these materials under irradiation;
an analysis of the impact on performance;
exhaustive and rigorous manufacturing controls.
Components are subjected to thermal, mechanical and chemical stresses, and their properties can be altered by neutron bombardment (see
The sheathing tube, which forms the first barrier, has a number of major functions. As a result, this component must meet specific requirements.
Based on zirconium alloys, classified into four main families, we'll get to know them better as we read this dossier devoted to materials for pressurized water power reactors (PWRs).
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Cladding tube materials for pressurized water reactors
Bibliography
References
Suppliers – manufacturers
(non-exhaustive list)
Zr alloy suppliers
• Cezus
• Electrostall
• Wah-Chang
• Western Zirconium
Sheathing tube manufacturers
• Cezus
• General Electric
• Kobe Steel
• MHI/MMC
...
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