Mukhachev A., Pylypenko M., Yelatontsev D., Shevchenko V., Kharytonova O. Nuclear reactor zirconium alloys quality issues
- Details
- Parent Category: Geo-Technical Mechanics, 2024
- Category: Geo-Technical Mechanics, 2024, Issue 169
Geoteh. meh. 2024, 169, 96-117
NUCLEAR REACTOR ZIRCONIUM ALLOYS QUALITY ISSUES
1Mukhachev A., 2Pylypenko M., 1Yelatontsev D., 1Shevchenko V., 3Kharytonova O.
1M.S. Poliakov Institute of Geotechnical Mechanics of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine
2National Science Centre Kharkiv Institute of Physics and Technology of National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine
3Masaryk University
UDC 621.039.53+669.296.5.002.61
Language: English
Abstract. The solution to increase the degree of nuclear fuel burnup and to extend the service life of fuel assemblies (FAs) to 5–7 years is largely related to improving existing production technologies and developing new, more radiation- and corrosion-resistant alloys. This paper analyses the industrial technologies for producing reactor-pure zirconium alloys for producing products operating in the core of thermal neutron reactors (BWR, PWR, VVER). Research demonstrates that the processes of zirconium concentrate opening, the efficiency of zirconium and hafnium extraction separation, and the refining of the alloy by electron beam melting determine the purity of zirconium alloys. It has been established that oxygen is an alloying element, and its optimal concentration should be from 0.10 to 0.14%. The new soda-extraction fluoride-calcium-thermal technology developed in Ukraine has the most efficient refining processes that ensure the purity of zirconium-niobium alloys at ≥99.94%. This makes it possible to improve the corrosion and radiation resistance of the alloys by reducing the impurity content to 0.05%. Industrial technologies for the production of zirconium alloys for reactor use do not allow achieving a purity level of more than 99.8%. This limits the lifetime of nuclear fuel to 4 years and its burnup rate to 50 mW∙day/kgU. Calcium-thermal zirconium and alloys based on it, such as E110, have special chemical compositions and physical and mechanical properties. The data presented in the review show that, in terms of chemical composition, one of the main tasks of researchers and technologists at the present stage is to study the role of oxygen impurity in ensuring the required service characteristics of alloys based on E110. The increased yield strength and hardness values of E110 and E125 alloys raise the challenge of improving the technology of forming pipe billets and the deformation treatment of alloys. More complex are the tasks associated with ensuring radiation and corrosion resistance, reducing radiation embrittlement, and swelling of alloys. The review offers technical solutions and technological methods that can ensure the required quality of alloys under the requirements of national and international quality standards.
Keywords: zirconium, hafnium, alloys, impurities, oxygen, extraction, distillation, sublimation.
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About the authors:
Mukhachev Anatolii, Candidate of Physics and Mathematics (Ph. D.), Senior Researcher, Senior Researcher in the Department of Mechanics of Mineral Processing Machines and Processes, Institute of Geotechnical Mechanics named by N. Poljakov of National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine (IGTM of the NAS of Ukraine), Dnipro, Ukraine, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , ORCID 0000-0002-6025-3988
Pylypenko Mykola, Doctor of Physics and Mathematics (D. Sc.), Professor, Head of scientific researching laboratory of physics and zirconium and technology of pure metals, Institute of Solid State Physics Materials and Technology, National Science Center Kharkov Institute of Physics and Technology, Kharkiv, Ukraine, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , ORCID 0000-0001-8113-8578
Yelatontsev Dmytro, Candidate of Technical Sciences (Ph. D.), Associate Professor, Senior Researcher in the Department of Vibratory Transporting Systems and Complexes, M. S. Poliakov Institute of Geotechnical Mechanics of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine (IGTM of the NAS of Ukraine), Dnipro, Ukraine, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , ORCID 0000-0003-1043-418X
Shevchenko Volodymyr, Doctor of Technical Sciences (D.Sc.), Professor, Scientific Secretary of the Institute, Head of Department of Vibratory Transporting Systems and Complexes, M.S. Poliakov Institute of Geotechnical Mechanics of the NAS of Ukraine (IGTM of the NAS of Ukraine), Dnipro, Ukraine, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , ORCID 0000-0002-7290-811X
Kharytonova Olena, Candidate of Physics and Mathematics (Ph. D.), Associate Professor, Researcher, Department of Condensed Matter Physics, Physics Section, Faculty of Science of Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , ORCID 0000-0002-1356-3465