SYMPOSIA PAPER Published: 30 January 2015
STP154320120155

Analysis of the Secondary Cladding Hydrogenation During the Quench–LOCA Bundle Tests With Zircaloy-4 Claddings and its Influence on the Cladding Embrittlement

Source

LOCA simulation tests were performed in the QUENCH facility of KIT on fuel rod bundle scale. The first two tests using Zircaloy-4 claddings, out of a series of six tests with different cladding alloys, were already performed. The test conditions and results are described. The secondary hydrogenation of the Zircaloy-4 cladding tubes was investigated by means of neutron imaging. In the cladding of the inner rods, hydrogen enriched bended bands were found. They are non-symmetrical to the tube axis. The bands are located at the position where significant inner oxidation ends. X-ray diffractometry (XRD) measurements show that the hydrogen remains at least partially in the zirconium lattice. The formation of the hydrogen enriched bands results in an embrittlement of the cladding tubes and in changes of the fracture mode in tensile tests. The micro-hardness of the cladding increases at the band position. The reasons of the formation of these hydrogen enriched bands and the dependence of its appearance on the temperature scenario are discussed.

Author Information

Grosse, M.
Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Institute for Applied Materials, Karlsruhe, DE
Stuckert, J.
Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Institute for Applied Materials, Karlsruhe, DE
Roessger, C.
Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Institute for Applied Materials, Karlsruhe, DE
Steinbrueck, M.
Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Institute for Applied Materials, Karlsruhe, DE
Walter, M.
Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Institute for Applied Materials, Karlsruhe, DE
Kaestner, A.
Paul Scherrer Institute, Spallation Neutron Source Division, Villigen, CH
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Developed by Committee: B10
Pages: 1–20
DOI: 10.1520/STP154320120155
ISBN-EB: 978-0-8031-7580-8
ISBN-13: 978-0-8031-7529-7