In-Reactor Monitoring of Zircaloy-2 Plutonium Recycle Test Reactor Pressure Tubes: Part 2, May and June, 1962 Page: 5
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HW-74731
Results of the monitoring program from September of 1960 to May
of 1962 have been reported.(1) Highlights for that period include the
following information. There had been no creep of the pressure tubes. A
satisfactory gas gap was being maintained between the pressure tubes and
the aluminum shroud tubes except for two channels. In all tubes localized
fretting/wear corrosion areas were present at contact points between the
fuel elements and the tube walls. With increased reactor operating time
the corrosion marks became more numerous and the maximum detected
depth of penetration became greater. Consideration of these circumstances
led to extensive monitoring in May and June of 1962. This report gives the
results of these inspections.
SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS
All 85 pressure tubes were visually examined and fretting mark
depths measured- Gas gap and inside diameter measurements were made
on 11 tubes, including initial measurements on four recently installed tubes,
Approximately 1600 marks were found and measured. The maximum
number of marks found in a single tube was 78. The maximum penetration,
26 mils, occurred in about two months of reactor operating time. Eleven
percent of the tubes (9 tubes) were found to have marks deeper than 10 mils;
14 percent (12 tubes) had marks with a maximum depth from 6 to 10 mils;
and 75 percent (64 tubes) had marks with a maximum depth of 6 mils.
To determine the effect of fretting corrosion on tube strength, two
tubes were removed from the reactor for destructive testing The room
temperature burst strength of tube sections with fret marks up to 17 and 26
mils deep was higher than that of comparable unirradiated tube sections.
Fretting corrosion data is being statistically analyzed by Operations
Research and Synthesis. Among the variables being considered are :
flow, vibration, fuel element dimensions, fuel element parts, and coolant
temperatures. Thus far, results of this analysis and visual and depth-5-
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Doman, D. R. & Pankaskie, P. J. In-Reactor Monitoring of Zircaloy-2 Plutonium Recycle Test Reactor Pressure Tubes: Part 2, May and June, 1962, report, August 1962; Washington D.C.. (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc100622/m1/7/: accessed April 24, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.