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Title: Hydrogen permeation in FeCrAl alloys for LWR cladding application

Abstract

FeCrAl is an advanced oxidation-resistant iron-based alloy class, is a highly prevalent candidate as an accident-tolerant fuel cladding material. Compared with traditional zirconium alloy fuel cladding, increased tritium permeation through FeCrAl fuel cladding to the primary coolant is expected, raising potential safety concerns. In our study, the hydrogen permeability of several FeCrAl alloys was obtained using a static permeation test station, which was calibrated and validated using 304 stainless steel. The high hydrogen permeability of FeCrAl alloys leads to concerns with respect to potentially significant tritium release when used for fuel cladding in LWRs. Also, the total tritium inventory inside the primary coolant of a light water reactor was quantified by applying a 1-dimensional steady state tritium diffusion model to demonstrate the dependence of tritium inventory on fuel cladding type. Furthermore, potential mitigation strategies for tritium release from FeCrAl fuel cladding were discussed and indicate the potential for application of an alumina layer on the inner clad surface to serve as a tritium barrier. More effort is required to develop a robust, economical mitigation strategy for tritium permeation in reactors using FeCrAl clad fuel assemblies.

Authors:
 [1];  [2];  [1];  [2]
  1. Univ. of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN (United States); Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
  2. Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE Office of Nuclear Energy (NE)
OSTI Identifier:
1185774
Alternate Identifier(s):
OSTI ID: 1246642
Grant/Contract Number:  
AC05-00OR22725
Resource Type:
Accepted Manuscript
Journal Name:
Journal of Nuclear Materials
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 461; Journal Issue: C; Journal ID: ISSN 0022-3115
Publisher:
Elsevier
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE

Citation Formats

Hu, Xunxiang, Terrani, Kurt A., Wirth, Brian D., and Snead, Lance L. Hydrogen permeation in FeCrAl alloys for LWR cladding application. United States: N. p., 2015. Web. doi:10.1016/j.jnucmat.2015.02.040.
Hu, Xunxiang, Terrani, Kurt A., Wirth, Brian D., & Snead, Lance L. Hydrogen permeation in FeCrAl alloys for LWR cladding application. United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnucmat.2015.02.040
Hu, Xunxiang, Terrani, Kurt A., Wirth, Brian D., and Snead, Lance L. Thu . "Hydrogen permeation in FeCrAl alloys for LWR cladding application". United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnucmat.2015.02.040. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1185774.
@article{osti_1185774,
title = {Hydrogen permeation in FeCrAl alloys for LWR cladding application},
author = {Hu, Xunxiang and Terrani, Kurt A. and Wirth, Brian D. and Snead, Lance L.},
abstractNote = {FeCrAl is an advanced oxidation-resistant iron-based alloy class, is a highly prevalent candidate as an accident-tolerant fuel cladding material. Compared with traditional zirconium alloy fuel cladding, increased tritium permeation through FeCrAl fuel cladding to the primary coolant is expected, raising potential safety concerns. In our study, the hydrogen permeability of several FeCrAl alloys was obtained using a static permeation test station, which was calibrated and validated using 304 stainless steel. The high hydrogen permeability of FeCrAl alloys leads to concerns with respect to potentially significant tritium release when used for fuel cladding in LWRs. Also, the total tritium inventory inside the primary coolant of a light water reactor was quantified by applying a 1-dimensional steady state tritium diffusion model to demonstrate the dependence of tritium inventory on fuel cladding type. Furthermore, potential mitigation strategies for tritium release from FeCrAl fuel cladding were discussed and indicate the potential for application of an alumina layer on the inner clad surface to serve as a tritium barrier. More effort is required to develop a robust, economical mitigation strategy for tritium permeation in reactors using FeCrAl clad fuel assemblies.},
doi = {10.1016/j.jnucmat.2015.02.040},
journal = {Journal of Nuclear Materials},
number = C,
volume = 461,
place = {United States},
year = {Thu Mar 19 00:00:00 EDT 2015},
month = {Thu Mar 19 00:00:00 EDT 2015}
}

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Cited by: 36 works
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Works referenced in this record:

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Works referencing / citing this record:

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