Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090022259 | FUEL ROD WITH WEAR-INHIBITING COATING - A fuel rod includes a cladding tube with a wear-inhibiting coating. In one embodiment, the coating is made of a metallic powder material that is applied to the exterior surface of the cladding tube using a thermal spray process. In an alternative embodiment, the coating is a composite made of a metallic powder material, and a ceramic powder material or a metal oxide hard phase powder material that is simultaneously applied with the metallic powder material to coat the cladding tube. The coating can be applied to selected areas of the fuel rods where debris tends to fret the fuel rod. | 01-22-2009 |
20100014624 | Nuclear reactor components including material layers to reduce enhanced corrosion on zirconium alloys used in fuel assemblies and methods thereof - Example embodiments are directed to providing a thin, adherent coating on the surfaces of nuclear reactor components, which are known to cause increased corrosion on adjacent zirconium alloy structures, and methods of reducing the increased corrosion. Example embodiments include coatings being structurally bonded to components such that the difference in the corrosion potential between a coated component and a zirconium alloy component is less than that between a component without the coating and the zirconium alloy component. | 01-21-2010 |
20100055308 | Method of protecting reactor components from fouling - A method of protecting a reactor component from fouling includes forming an oxide layer on a metal foil to achieve an antifouling liner. The antifouling liner may be manipulated into a shape that conforms to one or more surfaces of the reactor component that are contacted by a fluid during reactor operation. The metal foil portion of the antifouling liner is secured to the surface(s) of the reactor component by suitable means. As a result, the oxide layer portion of the antifouling liner is exposed to the fluid in the reactor, thereby reducing or preventing the fouling of the component. | 03-04-2010 |
20100091934 | FUEL ROD ASSEMBLY AND METHOD FOR MITIGATING THE RADIATION-ENHANCED CORROSION OF A ZIRCONIUM-BASED COMPONENT - There is provided a fuel rod assembly comprising a first component of a zirconium-based material. The first component is in contact with or is located adjacent to a second component of a material different from the zirconium-based material, e.g. a nickel-based or iron-based alloy. A coating is disposed on an outer surface of the first component, which is effective to reduce an electrochemical corrosion potential difference between the first component and the second component relative to an electrochemical corrosion potential difference between the first component and the second component without the coating. | 04-15-2010 |
20120033779 | METHODS OF DETERMINING IN-REACTOR SUSCEPTIBILITY OF A ZIRCONIUM-BASED ALLOY TO SHADOW CORROSION - A method of determining in-reactor susceptibility of a zirconium-based alloy to shadow corrosion according to a non-limiting embodiment of the present invention may include immersing a first electrode and a second electrode in an electrolytic solution. The first electrode may be formed of the zirconium-based alloy, while the second electrode may be formed of a metallic material suitable for use in a nuclear reactor and having a higher electrochemical corrosion potential than the zirconium-based alloy. The method may additionally include irradiating the immersed first and second electrodes with electromagnetic radiation. A galvanic current may then be measured between the first electrode and the second electrode to ascertain the relative in-reactor susceptibility of the zirconium-based alloy to shadow corrosion. The present invention allows a simplified and more rapid method of developing solutions that mitigate shadow corrosion, thereby potentially saving years of expensive in-reactor testing. | 02-09-2012 |
20120315496 | METHOD OF FORMING AN OXIDE COATING THAT REDUCES ACCUMULATION OF RADIOACTIVE SPECIES ON A METALLIC SURFACE - A method of forming an oxide coating for reducing the accumulation of radioactive species on a metallic surface exposed to fluids containing charged particles is disclosed. The method includes preparing an aqueous colloidal suspension containing about 0.5 to about 35 weight percent of nanoparticles that contain at least one of titania and zirconia, and about 0.1% to about 10% 2-[2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethoxy]acetic acid (C | 12-13-2012 |
20140029712 | DIELECTRIC COATING FOR SURFACES EXPOSED TO HIGH TEMPERATURE WATER - Example embodiments relate to a method and apparatus for reducing electrostatic deposition of charged particles on wetted surfaces that are exposed, periodically or substantially continuously, to high velocity fluid flow within a coolant flow path in a nuclear reactor. The method may include depositing a first or base dielectric layer and a second or outer dielectric layer on a conductive surface that forms a portion of a high velocity flow path to attain the apparatus. The first dielectric layer material is selected to provide improved adhesion and insulation to the conductive surface and the second dielectric layer material is selected to provide suitable adhesion to the first dielectric layer and improved corrosion and/or mechanical resistance in the anticipated operating environment. | 01-30-2014 |
20140334592 | FUEL ROD ASSEMBLY AND METHOD FOR MITIGATING THE RADIATION-ENHANCED CORROSION OF A ZIRCONIUM-BASED COMPONENT - There is provided a fuel rod assembly comprising a first component of a zirconium-based material. The first component is in contact with or is located adjacent to a second component of a material different from the zirconium-based material, e.g. a nickel-based or iron-based alloy. A coating is disposed on an outer surface of the first component, which is effective to reduce an electrochemical corrosion potential difference between the first component and the second component relative to an electrochemical corrosion potential difference between the first component and the second component without the coating. | 11-13-2014 |