ML20031D822
| ML20031D822 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 10/27/1976 |
| From: | Tokar M Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| To: | Check P Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20031D800 | List: |
| References | |
| FOIA-81-236 NUDOCS 8110140260 | |
| Download: ML20031D822 (3) | |
Text
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?O MDiORANDUM FOR:
P. S. Check, Chief, Core Performance Branch, DSS THRU:
R. O. Meyer, Section Leader, Reactor Fuels Section FROM:
M. Tokar, Reactor Fuels Section, CPB
SUBJECT:
MEETING SUIS'ARY; IRRADIATION BEHAVIOR OF Al 02 3 - BqC On October 8,1976 a meeting was held with' Sd::ue.1 C. Weaver, President of U. S. Nuclear, Inc., on the irradiation behavior of Al 02 3 - EqC.
2 3 - B C burnable poison pellets U. S. Nuclear is a f abricator of Al 0 q
for B&W.
Dr. Weaver's presentation to the staff was essentially a su= mary of (1) U. S. Nuclear experience with Al O3 - BgC pellets and 2
(2) a literature sun'2y of observations of the irradiation and corro-sion behavior of Al 02 3 and B c.
A list of attendees is herewith q
attliiched.
Copies of the meeting slides are available in the PDR and branch files.. C
/
Dr. Weaver subdivided his talk into the following seven seg=ents:
~
2 3 - E C Pellets 1.
Characteristics of U. S. Nuclear Al 0 g
2.
U.-S. Nuclear Fabrication Experience 3.
Al 02 3 - BqC Irradiation Behavior Irradiation Behavior 4.
A1 03 2
. 5.
BgC Corrosion Behavior e,
6.
Al 0 Corrosion Behavior
/
2 3 7.
Al 02 3 - 3 C Compatability With Zircaloy Tubing 4
The following major points were made by Dr. Weaver:
1)
U. S. Nuclear cold presses and sinters its B C - Al 023 g
pellets.
The dimensional control obtained via this fabrication process is so good that no centerless grinding is required. Therefore,,.
a major potential source of water adsorption is avoided.
- 2) A review of IAPL and EMI darm on Al 02 3 - BuC indicated that
. desirable chararreristics for~ good irradiation pel.forrance of A1203 - B4C include (a) intermediate densitics (65'- 85% T.D.),
(b) small grain size Al 0, and (c) low moisture content.
2 3 s
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f8110140260 810006 5PDR FOIA
(-BROWN 81-236 PDR r
5 3)
Expected irradiation behavior of Al 03 - B C includes 2
4 103, and (b) 1 - 1%
(a) a df-ter increase of -l% at 100% burnup of gas release at 100% burnup of 10B.
- 4) A rate equ trion.for IhC vater corrosion (obtained on B C 4
po0 der) was provided as:
-11,000/RT (gf,2-h-nsnH O)
~
, Rate = 0.14P-Ae 2
HO 2
Assuming 1600 pri H O pressure, 0.44m /g surface area, and 575'i, the 2
reaction rate determined by this equation is o.34%/h.
degrades in H O at PWR temperatures (exact mechanism
- 5) A1 C3 2
2
- uncertain).
In sumury, Dr. Weaver made a convincing case that B C - Al 023 4
burnable poison pellets, when properly fabricated and incorporating the above cited characteristics, vill perform satisfactorily.
M. Tokar Reactor Fuels Section Core Performance Branch
. Division of Systems Safety cc:
S. Hanauer R. Heineman F. Schroeder R. Fraley, ACRS (l')
6 OR, SS&EA, FM & SS ads LD & RES ads I&E (3)
L. Tripp Meeting Attendees NRC PDR (3)
E. Bear R. Lobel
~
Contact:
M. Tokar
- - - ~ ~
6 9
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e f/
s LIST OF ATTENDEES 4
U. S. NUCLEAR. INC.
B&W 4
S. C. Weaver R. Copeland 4
~ ~ ~
a R. Borsum NRC F. D. Coffman R. O. Meyer l
M. Tokar B. -Siegel D. Houston l
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