AREVA NP's enhanced accident-tolerant fuel developments: Focus on Cr-coated M5 cladding

Journal Article · Thu Mar 01 00:00:00 EST 2018 · Nuclear Engineering and Technology

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.net.2017.12.004· OSTI ID:1632989

Bischoff, Jeremy; Delafoy, Christine ; Vauglin, Christine; Barberis, Pierre; Roubeyrie, Cédric; Perche, Delphine; Duthoo, Dominique; Schuster, Frédéric; Brachet, Jean-Christophe; Schweitzer, Elmar W.; Nimishakavi, Kiran

AREVA NP (Courbevoie, Paris, France) is actively developing several enhanced accident-tolerant fuels cladding concepts ranging from near-term evolutionary (Cr-coated zirconium alloy cladding) to longterm revolutionary (SiC/SiC composite cladding) solutions, relying on its worldwide teams and partnerships, with programs and irradiations planned both in Europe and the United States. The most advanced and mature solution is a dense, adherent chromium coating on zirconium alloy cladding, which was initially developed along with the CEA and EDF in the French joint nuclear R&D program. The evaluation of the out-of-pile behavior of the Cr-coated cladding showed excellent results, suggesting enhanced reliability, enhanced operational flexibility, and improved economics in normal operating conditions. For example, because chromium is harder than zirconium, the Cr coating provides the cladding with a significantly improved wear resistance. Furthermore, Cr-coated samples exhibit extremely low corrosion kinetics in autoclave and prevents accelerated corrosion in harsh environments such as in water with 70 ppm Li leading to improved operational flexibility. Finally, AREVA NP has fabricated a physical vapor deposition prototype machine to coat full-length cladding tubes. This machine will be used for the manufacturing of full-length lead test rods in commercial reactors by 2019.

• Research Organization: Framatome, Inc., Charlotte, NC (United States); AREVA Inc., Lynchburg, VA (United States). Fuel Design
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Nuclear Energy (NE)
• Grant/Contract Number: NE0008220
• OSTI ID: 1632989
• Alternate ID(s): OSTI ID: 1501539
• Journal Information: Nuclear Engineering and Technology, Journal Name: Nuclear Engineering and Technology Vol. 50 Journal Issue: 2; ISSN 1738-5733
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Country of Publication: Korea, Republic of
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
Accident-Tolerant Fuels
Cladding
Cr Coating
Physical Vapor Deposition