Corrosion and Hydrogen pickup (HPU) – Volume. I
Corrosion and Hydrogen pickup (HPU) mechanisms of Zr alloys remain a top priority of the nuclear industry. Commercial Zr alloys have today adequate in-reactor corrosion properties. However, hydrogen in fuel components limits the fuel performance today during normal operation and accident conditions as well as during transport of spent fuel. Despite more than 50 years research, the corrosion and HPU mechanisms are still not clear. Improved understanding of the in -reactor oxidation and hydrogen pickup mechanisms are thus required. To shed light on theses complicated mechanisms A.N.T. International has published a set of three reports (Vol. I, II and III) with the focus on explaining the very complicated corrosion and hydrogen pickup mechanisms in an understandable manner.
Volume I gives an introduction on the corrosion and hydrogen pickup (HPU) processes in zirconium alloys. The following topics are treated in details:
- The effects of in-reactor irradiation on both zirconium alloys and the coolant (radiolysis)
- Crud sources, transport mechanisms and deposition mechanisms
- Axial offset anomalies
- Reactor cases of severe crud impact on fuel performance
