Method for making fuel cladding having zirconium barrier layers and inner liners
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsJoseph S. Armijo, Herman S. Rosenbaum, Cedric D. Williams
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention provides a cladding having an outer circumferential substrate, a zirconium barrier layer metallurgically bonded to the inside surface of the substrate and an inner circumferential liner metallurgically bonded to the zirconium barrier. The inner circumferential liner is more ductile than conventional Zircaloy. The low ductility of the inner circumferential liner is obtained by using a zirconium alloy containing a low tin content (e.g. less than 1.2% by weight) and/or a low oxygen content (e.g. less than 1000 ppm). The inner circumferential liner is less than about 25 micrometers thick.
Claims54
A method of making a cladding tube having an outer substrate, an intermediate zirconium barrier layer, and an inner liner, the substrate, barrier layer, and inner liner each having interior and exterior circumferential surfaces, the method comprising the following steps:
- (a) bonding the zirconium barrier layer exterior circumferential surface to the substrate interior circumferential surface;
- and
- (b) bonding the inner liner outer circumferential surface to the zirconium barrier layer inner circumferential surface, wherein the inner liner comprises a zirconium alloy having less than about 1.2% tin by weight.
A method of making a cladding tube having an outer substrate, an intermediate zirconium barrier layer, and an inner liner, the substrate, barrier layer, and inner liner each having interior and exterior circumferential surfaces, the method comprising the following steps:
- (a) bonding the zirconium barrier layer exterior circumferential surface to the substrate interior circumferential surface;
- and
- (b) bonding the inner liner outer circumferential surface to the zirconium barrier layer inner circumferential surface, wherein the inner liner comprises a zirconium alloy having less than about 1000 ppm oxygen by weight.
A method of making a cladding tube having an outer substrate, an intermediate zirconium barrier layer, and an inner liner, the substrate, barrier layer, and inner liner each having interior and exterior circumferential surfaces, the method comprising the following steps:
- (a) bonding the zirconium barrier layer exterior circumferential surface to the substrate interior circumferential surface;
- and
- (b) bonding the inner liner outer circumferential surface to the zirconium barrier layer inner circumferential surface, wherein the inner liner of the cladding tube has a radial thickness of less than about 20 micrometers.
A method of making a cladding tube from a tubeshell having an outer substrate, an intermediate zirconium barrier layer, and a zirconium alloy inner liner, the substrate, zirconium barrier layer, and zirconium alloy inner liner each having interior and exterior circumferential surfaces, the method comprising the following steps:
- (a) conducting a first pass cold work step followed by an anneal;
- (b) conducting a second pass cold work step followed by an anneal;
- (c) conducting a third pass cold work step followed by an anneal;
- and
- (d) conducting a fourth pass cold work step followed by an anneal.
A method of making a cladding tube having an outer substrate, an intermediate zirconium barrier layer, and an inner liner, the substrate, barrier layer, and inner liner each having interior and exterior circumferential surfaces, the method comprising the following steps:
- (a) bonding the zirconium barrier layer exterior circumferential surface to the substrate interior circumferential surface;
- and
- (b) bonding the inner liner outer circumferential surface to the zirconium barrier layer inner circumferential surface, wherein the inner liner comprises a zirconium alloy, and wherein at least one of steps (a) and (b) is a hot isostatic pressing step.
A method of making a cladding tube having an outer substrate, an intermediate zirconium barrier layer, and an inner liner, the substrate, barrier layer, and inner liner each having interior and exterior circumferential surfaces, the method comprising the following steps:
- (a) bonding the zirconium barrier layer exterior circumferential surface to the substrate interior circumferential surface;
- and
- (b) bonding the inner liner outer circumferential surface to the zirconium barrier layer inner circumferential surface, wherein prior to bonding the substrate inner circumferential surface, the zirconium barrier layer interior and exterior circumferential surfaces and the inner liner exterior circumferential surface each have a surface roughness of not greater than about 64 microinches.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.