Plugs
AssigneeUnited Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority
InventorLeslie Clapham
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Nuclear fuel is canned in metal cans which have sealed closures to maintain the cans leak tight. Failure of the seal due to the chemical reaction of free hydrogen within the can is a problem which is alleviated by incorporating within the can a mass of a material which will be selectively attacked by hydrogen. Zirconium alloy is such a material and in the case of fuel canned in this alloy the hydrogen trap needs special shaping and positioning to ensure that it, rather than the can wall, is preferentially attacked by any hydrogen present.
Claims2
A metal nuclear fuel can having a metal closure plug for closing an open end of the can, the plug having a closure portion dimensioned to engage the open end, a team of reduced cross-sectional area extending axially from the dimensioned portion into the can interior, the stem terminating in a flange of enlarged cross-sectional are, the flange being formed of a material which is selectively susceptible of attack by hydrogen, the surface of the flange remote from the closure portion having a surface roughness greater than that of the interior surface of the can wall.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.