Corrosion of Hanford fuel elements: Method for the treatment and analyses of in-pile corrosion data

摘要

The corrosion rates of slug jackets exposed in the Hanford piles are monitored to determine optimum operating conditions and to evaluate proposed changes in process specifications. Selected process tubes are charged with weighed slugs, and the coolant flow rate and temperature rise through the tubes are recorded until the slugs are discharged. The corrosion rates of these control slugs are computed from weight loss data after discharge. The data obtained in this manner are used to find the relationship between slug jacket corrosion rates and the various conditions of power and temperature that are encountered in the piles. This report covers all of the corrosion data obtained to date for slugs that have been cooled with the currently specified process water, which is alum-coagulated and contains 2 ppm sodium dichromate as an inhibitor (see Appendix II for the water composition). All of the slugs were normal production pieces canned in 2-S aluminum.