Radiometallurgical examination of direct cast core fuel elements, PT-IP-93, (RM-318)

Technical Report · Thu Nov 12 04:00:00 EST 1959

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/10175842· OSTI ID:10175842

Teats, R

This report discusses two of the direct cast core I & E fuel elements irradiated in C Reactor under PT-IP-93 which were received at the Radiometallurgy Laboratory for examination during July 1959. One of the elements was badly warped and distorted while the other of the same series had remained relatively unchanged. Both pieces had received an average exposure of 689 MWD/T. Warp and diameter measurements show that the one element had warped approximately .040 in. and had become distorted in two longitudinal planes at the male end. The distortion planes are at right angles which gives the transverse section a square a appearance. A comparison of the grain size from three positions along the warped element with a section cut from the unwarped element revealed a greater number of large grains in the zones of highest distortion. The maximum size grains, were in the order of 2.5 mm -- 3.8 mm vs normal .2 mm. Also prevalent in all sections examined vas a columnar type grain structure around the outside periphery. It is evident that the pre-irradiation heat treatment failed to refine the grain size sufficiently to prevent nonuniform growth of this element during irradiation. A corrosion pit was noticed in the canwall of the second element that had penetrated of the canwall.

• Research Organization: General Electric Co., Richland, WA (United States). Hanford Atomic Products Operation
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC06-76RL01830
• OSTI ID: 10175842
• Report Number(s): HW--62732; ON: DE94017251
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS
220300
220600
CORROSION
DEFORMATION
FUEL ELEMENTS
GRAIN SIZE
HANFORD PRODUCTION REACTORS
HEAT TREATMENTS
IRRADIATION
POST-IRRADIATION EXAMINATION
RESEARCH
TEST
TRAINING
PRODUCTION
IRRADIATION
MATERIALS TESTING REACTORS