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Can mechanical stresses noticeably influence the diffusion of hydrogen in zircaloy?

Published/Copyright: March 12, 2014
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Kerntechnik
From the journal Kerntechnik Volume 79 Issue 1

Abstract

The diffusion of hydrogen in zircaloy under the influence of mechanical stresses is investigated. The governing equations are derived from the chemical potential of hydrogen including the contribution due to hydrostatic stresses. The obtained differential equation is converted to a system of algebraic equations by applying the finite element method and the weighted residual procedure. The equations are used to study the hydrogen diffusion in a fuel rod cladding tube with an axial crack and in a strip plate. It is demonstrated that the hydrogen tends to flow towards the areas of positive hydrostatic stress gradients where it precipitates in hydrides when the solubility limit is exceeded. The precipitation is itself a mechanism enhancing the transport to these areas by weakening the effect of the diffusion driven by concentration differences. The presented method can readily be applied to the diffusion of other species in metals.

Kurzfassung

Die Diffusion von Wasserstoff in Zirkaloy unter dem Einfluss von mechanischen Spannungen wird rechnerisch untersucht. Die benötigten Gleichungen werden aus dem um den Beitrag von hydrostatischen Spannungen erweiterten chemischen Potential abgeleitet. Die erhaltene Differentialgleichung wird durch die Anwendung der finiten Element Methode und des Verfahrens der gewichteten Residuen in ein System von algebraischen Gleichungen umgewandelt. Die Gleichungen werden zur Untersuchung der Wasserstoffdiffusion in einem Brennstabhüllrohr mit einem axialen Riss und in einem Blechstreifen eingesetzt. Es wird gezeigt, dass der Wasserstoff dazu tendiert, in Richtung der Bereiche mit positiven Gradienten der hydrostatischen Spannungen zu fließen, wo er teilweise in Hydriden ausgeschieden wird, wenn die Löslichkeitsgrenze überschritten wird. Durch Schwächung der Wirkung der durch Konzentrationsunterschiede angetriebenen Diffusion wirkt die Ausscheidung selbst als Mechanismus zur Verstärkung des Wasserstofftransports zu diesen Bereichen. Die vorgestellte Methode kann leicht auf die Diffusion anderer Substanzen in Metallen angewandt werden.

References

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Received: 2013-12-13
Published Online: 2014-03-12
Published in Print: 2014-03-17

© 2014, Carl Hanser Verlag, München

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  2. Contents
  3. Summaries/Kurzfassungen
  4. Summaries
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  7. Can mechanical stresses noticeably influence the diffusion of hydrogen in zircaloy?
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https://doi.org/10.3139/124.110407

Articles in the same Issue

  1. Contents/Inhalt
  2. Contents
  3. Summaries/Kurzfassungen
  4. Summaries
  5. Technical Contributions/Fachbeiträge
  6. Analysis of processes in RBMK-1500 fuel rods during the operation, short and intermediate term storage
  7. Can mechanical stresses noticeably influence the diffusion of hydrogen in zircaloy?
  8. Out-of-pile modelling of nuclear fuel elements for MTR type reactors – Part 1
  9. Experimental study of PHWR debris bed under boil-off condition
  10. Effectiveness of radial flow on rewetting of AHWR fuel cluster
  11. Radiotracers in performance evaluation of nuclear grade resins Amberlite IRN-78 and Purolite NRW-8000
  12. The production of 238–242Pu(n,γ)239–243Pu fissionable fluids in a fusion-fission hybrid reactor
  13. Theoretical study of deuteron induced reactions on 6,7Li, 9Be and 19F targets
  14. Upgrading of neutron radiography/tomography facility at research reactor
  15. Assessment of the radiological health damage costs of the Yeniköy and Kemerköy lignite-fired power plants in Muğla
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