Effect of oxide films on the thermal resistance between contacting zirconium alloys

Conference · Fri Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1982

OSTI ID:5123416

Schankula, M H; Patterson, D W; Yovanovich, M M

The resistance to heat flow at interfaces formed between contacting solids plays a key role in nuclear reactor systems. In many instances, these contacts occur at elevated temperatures and in oxidizing or corrosive environments. These environments normally lead to increased thermal resistance (decreased conductance), which recent theoretical predictions have related to (i) thermal conductivity of the oxide layer, (ii) layer thickness, (iii) effective hardness of the surface, and (iv) surface microtopography. Experiments with oxidized zirconium specimens have confirmed these predictions and revealed that the contact conductance in vacuum increases as the ratio of layer thickness to contact-spot radius increases. This study is of particular importance in our efforts to predict the rate of heat flow from an overheated CANDU pressure tube when it comes into contact with the surrounding calandria tube during a postulated loss-of-coolant accident. 12 references, 6 figures, 3 tables.

• OSTI ID: 5123416
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
210400* -- Power Reactors
Nonbreeding
Otherwise Moderated or Unmoderated
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360104 -- Metals & Alloys-- Physical Properties
ACCIDENTS
ALLOYS
CANDU TYPE REACTORS
COOLING SYSTEMS
ENERGY SYSTEMS
ENERGY TRANSFER
HEAT TRANSFER
HEAVY WATER MODERATED REACTORS
LOSS OF COOLANT
MATERIALS
PRESSURE TUBE REACTORS
PRESSURE TUBES
REACTOR ACCIDENTS
REACTOR COMPONENTS
REACTOR COOLING SYSTEMS
REACTORS
THERMAL REACTORS
TUBES
ZIRCONIUM ALLOYS
ZIRCONIUM BASE ALLOYS