SEDL / STP / STP586-EB / STP33923S

Detecting Cladding Leaks in Irradiated Fuel Elements by Neutron Radiography

Ross, AM
Associate research officer, Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd., Chalk River Nuclear Labs., Chalk River, Ontario

Pages: 15    Published: Jan 1976

Download this paper for $25 PDF (692K)          View License Agreement
Abstract

At Chalk River, performance limits for advanced fuels are established by irradiating multi-element assemblies until one or more elements develop a cladding leak. Post-irradiation identification of leaky elements is assisted by thermal neutron radiography, because marked changes in radiographic appearance occur due to the effects of light water coolant entering during operation. Radiographs illustrating these changes are given for zirconium alloy-clad UO² and uranium alloy fuel elements that had been irradiated in pressurized water to burnups up to 144 MWh/kg uranium.