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Investigation of the 3D hydrogen distribution in zirconium alloys by means of neutron tomography

Paper presented at the Symposium “Tomographic and Radiographic Imaging with Synchrotron X-rays and Neutrons” of the MSE 2018, 26–28 September 2018, Darmstadt, Germany
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Published/Copyright: December 25, 2019
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International Journal of Materials Research
From the journal International Journal of Materials Research Volume 111 Issue 1

Abstract

The fuel rod claddings in nuclear light water reactors are made of zirconium alloys. Corrosion of these alloys during operation and in particular high temperature oxidation during nuclear accidents results in the production of free hydrogen. The cladding can absorb this hydrogen. It affects the mechanical properties of the cladding material. Hydrogen embrittlement of these materials provides the risk of brittle fracture of the cladding by thermo-shock during emergency cooling. At KIT the behaviour of cladding materials under different hypothetical nuclear accident scenarios was investigated. One focus was on hydrogen absorption and distribution/re-distribution in the alloys. The hydrogen distribution was determined mainly by neutron tomography. Examples for the determination of the 3D hydrogen distribution in cladding tubes after loss of coolant accident simulation tests are given and discussed.

Keywords: Hydrogen; Zirconium; Neutron imaging; Loss of coolant accidents
∗ Correspondence address, Mirco Grosse, IAM-AWP, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, P.O. Box 3640, D-76021 Karlsruhe, Germany, Tel.: +49 721 608 23884, Fax: +49 721 608 24567, E-mail:

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Received: 2018-11-05
Accepted: 2019-11-15
Published Online: 2019-12-25
Published in Print: 2020-01-09

© 2020, Carl Hanser Verlag, München

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  2. Contents
  3. Editorial
  4. Tomography and radiography using hard X-rays and neutrons: shedding light on materials properties and engineering devices
  5. Original Contributions
  6. In-situ synchrotron investigation of the phases- and their morphology-development in Mg–Nd–Zn alloys
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  10. Characterization of aluminum alloy microstructures by means of synchrotron X-ray micro-tomography – a simple toolchain for extracting quantitative 3D morphological features
  11. Investigation of the 3D hydrogen distribution in zirconium alloys by means of neutron tomography
  12. Effect of laser power on roughness and porosity in laser powder bed fusion of stainless steel 316L alloys measured by X-ray tomography
  13. Microstructure of polymer-imprinted metal–organic frameworks determined by absorption edge tomography
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  16. Time-resolved phase-contrast microtomographic imaging of two-phase solid–liquid flow through porous media
  17. People
  18. In Memoriam Prof. Dr. phil. Dr. techn. h. c. mult. Hellmut F. Fischmeister (1927–2019)
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https://doi.org/10.3139/146.111863
Keywords for this article
Hydrogen; Zirconium; Neutron imaging; Loss of coolant accidents

Articles in the same Issue

  1. Contents
  2. Contents
  3. Editorial
  4. Tomography and radiography using hard X-rays and neutrons: shedding light on materials properties and engineering devices
  5. Original Contributions
  6. In-situ synchrotron investigation of the phases- and their morphology-development in Mg–Nd–Zn alloys
  7. Observation of side arm splitting studied by high resolution X-ray radiography
  8. Re-solidification dynamics and microstructural analysis of laser welded aluminium
  9. Determination of damage mechanisms and damage evolution in fiber metal laminates containing friction stir welded thin foils
  10. Characterization of aluminum alloy microstructures by means of synchrotron X-ray micro-tomography – a simple toolchain for extracting quantitative 3D morphological features
  11. Investigation of the 3D hydrogen distribution in zirconium alloys by means of neutron tomography
  12. Effect of laser power on roughness and porosity in laser powder bed fusion of stainless steel 316L alloys measured by X-ray tomography
  13. Microstructure of polymer-imprinted metal–organic frameworks determined by absorption edge tomography
  14. 3d tomography analysis of the packing structure of spherical particles in slender prismatic containers
  15. Microstructure and texture contributing to damage resistance of the anosteocytic hinge-bone in the cleithrum of Esox lucius
  16. Time-resolved phase-contrast microtomographic imaging of two-phase solid–liquid flow through porous media
  17. People
  18. In Memoriam Prof. Dr. phil. Dr. techn. h. c. mult. Hellmut F. Fischmeister (1927–2019)
  19. DGM News
  20. DGM News
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