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U.S. Department of Energy
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THE PITTING ATTACK ON THE ALUMINIUM CLAD HBWR FUEL ELEMENTS AND THEIR REPAIR

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:4836752
The canning of the HBWR fuel elements, made of aluminum with 0.6% Fe and 0.07% Si, pitted severely during experiments at room temperature. a period during which the D/sub 2/O purification system was not operating. The attack was caused by the combination of galvanic action due to coupling to stainless steel, and water with a local high impurity level. The elements were repaired by fitting an aluminum sleeve over the defected part. This was done by turning off the ffns and 3/10 mm of the cladding and shrinking the sleeve on. Seal welding was carried out by the argon shielded tungsten arc method by first depositing a stringer of metal on the can, and then jointng this weld bead to the sleeve with filler addition. The fuel elements were tested satisfactorily in the reactor at 150 deg C. (auth)
Research Organization:
Norway. Institutt for Atomenergi, Kjeller
NSA Number:
NSA-16-022543
OSTI ID:
4836752
Report Number(s):
KR-15
Country of Publication:
Country unknown/Code not available
Language:
English