Characteristics of fuel crud and its impact on storage, handling, and shipment of spent fuel. [Fuel crud]
Corrosion products, called ''crud,'' form on out-of-reactor surfaces of nuclear reactor systems and are transported by reactor coolant to the core, where they deposit on external fuel-rod cladding surfaces and are activated by nuclear reactions. After discharge of spent fuel from a reactor, spallation of radioactive crud from the fuel rods could impact wet or dry storage operations, handling (including rod consolidation), and shipping. It is the purpose of this report to review earlier (1970s) and more recent (1980s) literature relating to crud, its characteristics, and any impact it has had on actual operations. Crud characteristics vary from reactor type to reactor type, reactor to reactor, fuel assembly to fuel assembly in a reactor, circumferentially and axially in an assembly, and from cycle to cycle for a specific facility. To characterize crud of pressurized-water (PWRs) and boiling-water reactors (BWRs), published information was reviewed on appearance, chemical composition, areal density and thickness, structure, adhesive strength, particle size, and radioactivity. Information was also collected on experience with crud during spent fuel wet storage, rod consolidation, transportation, and dry storage. From experience with wet storage, rod consolidation, transportation, and dry storage, it appears crud spallation can be managed effectively, posing no significant radiological problems. 44 refs., 11 figs.
- Research Organization:
- Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC06-76RL01830
- OSTI ID:
- 6164184
- Report Number(s):
- PNL-6273; ON: DE88000914
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: Portions of this document are illegible in microfiche products. Original copy available until stock is exhausted
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
DEPOSITS
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
DENSITY
PARTICLE SIZE
THICKNESS
SPENT FUEL STORAGE
HAZARDS
SPENT FUELS
TRANSPORT
BWR TYPE REACTORS
DEPOSITION
DRY STORAGE
MATERIALS HANDLING
PWR TYPE REACTORS
RADIOACTIVITY
SPALLATION
DIMENSIONS
ENERGY SOURCES
FUELS
MATERIALS
NUCLEAR FUELS
NUCLEAR REACTIONS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
REACTOR MATERIALS
REACTORS
SIZE
STORAGE
WATER COOLED REACTORS
WATER MODERATED REACTORS
050900* - Nuclear Fuels- Transport
Handling
& Storage
054000 - Nuclear Fuels- Health & Safety