Methods of reducing hydrogen absorption in zirconium alloys of nuclear fuel assembly

摘要

A method of reducing hydrogen absorption in fuel assembly (46) components fabricated from zirconium alloys in a nuclear reactor (10) is provided. The method includes, in an exemplary embodiment, depositing at least one noble metal on at least one surface of the fuel assembly component. Depositing at least one noble metal includes exposing the zirconium alloy fuel assembly components, outside the nuclear reactor, to an aqueous solution including at least one compound containing at least one noble metal.