Corrosion resistant cladding for nuclear fuel rods

Patent · Tue Jun 25 04:00:00 EDT 1991

OSTI ID:5768596

Taylor, D F

This patent describes a corrosion resistant nuclear fuel element. It comprises an elongated cladding container formed from a zirconium alloy tube consisting essentially of, by weight percent; 0.5 to 2.0 percent tin, 0.28 to 1.4 percent of a solute selected from the group consisting of molybdenum and tellurium, niobium and tellurium, niobium and molybdenum, wherein the niobium is less than 0.5 percent, molybdenum and tellurium and niobium, wherein the niobium is at least 0.5 percent; and the balance zirconium; and a central core of a body of nuclear fuel material selected from the group consisting of compounds of uranium, plutonium, thorium and mixtures thereof disposed in and partially filling the container so as to leave a gap between the container and the core and an internal cavity at one end of the container, an enclosure integrally secured and sealed at each end of the container and a nuclear fuel material retaining means positioned in the cavity.

• Assignee: General Electric Co., Schenectady, NY (United States)
• Patent Number(s): A; US 5026516
• Application Number: PPN: US 7-356482
• OSTI ID: 5768596
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

050700 -- Nuclear Fuels-- Fuels Production & Properties
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS
220200 -- Nuclear Reactor Technology-- Components & Accessories
220300* -- Nuclear Reactor Technology-- Fuel Elements
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360105 -- Metals & Alloys-- Corrosion & Erosion
ACTINIDE COMPOUNDS
ALLOYS
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
CORROSION RESISTANCE
DEPOSITION
ELEMENTS
FUEL ASSEMBLIES
FUEL CANS
FUEL ELEMENT CLUSTERS
FUEL ELEMENTS
MATERIALS TESTING
METALS
MOLYBDENUM
NIOBIUM
PLUTONIUM COMPOUNDS
REACTOR COMPONENTS
REACTOR CORES
SEMIMETALS
SPACERS
SURFACE COATING
TELLURIUM
TESTING
THORIUM COMPOUNDS
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
TRANSURANIUM COMPOUNDS
URANIUM COMPOUNDS
ZIRCONIUM ALLOYS