Deposit suppression in the core of water-cooled nuclear reactors
AssigneeAtomic Energy of Canada Limited
InventorKenneth A. Burrill
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In pressurized water-cooled nuclear reactors, the formation of deposits on surfaces in the core of the reactor, e.g. on fuel sheaths, is suppressed by maintaining in the circulating pressurized water, a high concentration of ammonia ranging from about 120 to about 200 mg NH.sub.3 /kg water. Crevice corrosion of the fuel sheaths is avoided, even under localized boiling conditions, since the pH never attains a corrosively high level. The crevice corrosion danger with lithium can be reduced by replacing part of the lithium with ammonia.
Claims11
A method of suppressing the build-up of deposits on surfaces and minimizing crevice corrosion in the core of an operating nuclear reactor through which pressurized water is circulated and in which localized boiling may occur, comprising maintaining in the circulating water one of (a) a high concentration of ammonia within about 120 to about 200 mg NH.sub.3 /kg water, and (b) a mixture of ammonia and lithium giving a pH of 10 to about 10.7 at 25.degree. C.;
- with the ammonia being selected from ammonia of normal isotopic composition and equivalent amounts by wt. of deuterated ammonia.
An operating water-cooled nuclear reactor wherein indirect cycle primary coolant, subject to localized boiling, is present which is pressurized and contains during operation one of (a) from about 120 to about 200 mg NH.sub.3 /kg water, and (b) mixtures of ammonia and lithium giving a pH of 10 to about 10.7 at 25.degree. C.;
- with the ammonia being selected from ammonia of normal isotopic composition and equivalent amounts by wt. of deuterated ammonia.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.