Oxygen getters for fast reactor fuel pins

Journal Article · Tue Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1978 · Nucl. Technol.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6591366

Johnson, C E; Fee, D C

Oxidative attack of stainless-steel cladding in mixed uranium-plutonium oxide fast reactors may limit the life of the fuel pins. Present knowledge of cladding reactions suggests that the key factor in controlling cladding attack may be control of the oxygen potential (..delta.. anti G/sub O/sub 2// = RT ln p/sub O/sub 2//) by the insertion of oxygen getters within the fuel pin. Niobium, titanium, and vanadium are prime candidates as oxygen getters because they are easily oxidized at more negative oxygen potentials than the stainless-steel cladding. On the basis of predicted oxidation rates at the low oxygen pressures encountered in fuel pins, the recommended order of getter suitability is V > Nb > Ti.

• Research Organization: Argonne National Lab., IL
• OSTI ID: 6591366
• Journal Information: Nucl. Technol.; (United States), Journal Name: Nucl. Technol.; (United States) Vol. 40:1; ISSN NUTYB
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
210500* -- Power Reactors
Breeding
ADSORPTION
BREEDER REACTORS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CRYOGENIC FLUIDS
ELEMENTS
EPITHERMAL REACTORS
FAST REACTORS
FBR TYPE REACTORS
FLUIDS
FUEL ELEMENTS
FUEL PINS
GETTERING
GETTERS
LIQUID METAL COOLED REACTORS
LMFBR TYPE REACTORS
METALS
NIOBIUM
NONMETALS
OXIDATION
OXYGEN
PERFORMANCE
REACTOR COMPONENTS
REACTORS
REFRACTORY METALS
SORPTION
TITANIUM
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
VANADIUM