US5245645A
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Structural part for a nuclear reactor fuel assembly and method for producing this structural part
Assignee: Areva GmbH
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Filing: 1992-02-21
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Granted: 1993-09-14
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Expires: 2012-02-21
Abstract
Abstract A structural part for a nuclear reactor fuel assembly includes a zirconium alloy material having at least one alloy ingredient selected from the group consisting of oxygen and silicon, a tin alloy ingredient, at least one alloy ingredient selected from the group consisting of iron, chromium and nickel, and a remainder of zirconium and unavoidable contaminants. The zirconium alloy material has a content of the oxygen in a range of substantially from 700 to 2000 ppm, a content of the silicon of substantially up to 150 ppm, a content of the iron in a range of substantially from 0.07 to 0.5% by weight, a content of the chromium in a range of substantially from 0.05 to 0.35% by weight, a content of the nickel of substantially up to 0.1% by weight, and a content of the tin in a range of substantially from 0.8 to 1.7% by weight. The alloy ingredients selected from the group consisting of iron, chromium and nickel are precipitated out of a matrix of the zirconium alloy as secondary phases, having a diameter with a geometric mean value in a range of substantially from 0.1 to 0.3 μm. The degree of recrystallization of the zirconium alloy is less than or equal to 10% and a sample of the zirconium alloy, after a recrystallization annealing with a degree of recrystallization of 97±2%, has a mean grain diameter less than or equal to 3 μm.
Inventors
- 👤 Eckard Steinberg
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 22:00
CPC Classifications
G; G21; G21C; G21C3/00; G21C3/02; G21C3/04; G21C3/06; G21C3/07; C; C22; C22C; C22C16/00; C22F; C22F1/00; C22F1/16; C22F1/18; C22F1/186; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E30/00; Y02E30/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
253 words
A structural part for a nuclear reactor fuel assembly, comprising: a) a zirconium alloy material having at least one alloy ingredient selected from the group consisting of oxygen and silicon, a tin alloy ingredient, at least one alloy ingredient selected from the group consisting of iron, chromium and nickel, and a remainder of zirconium and unavoidable contaminants; b) the zirconium alloy material having a content of the oxygen in a range of substantially from 700 to 2000 ppm, a content of the silicon of substantially up to 150 ppm, a content of the iron in a range of substantially from 0.07 to 0.5% by weight, a content of the chromium in a range of substantially from 0.05 to 0.35% by weight, a content of the nickel of substantially up to 0.1% by weight, and a content of the tin in a range of substantially from 0.8 to 1.7% by weight; c) the alloy ingredients selected from the group consisting of iron, chromium and nickel being precipitated out of a matrix of the zirconium alloy as secondary phases, having a diameter with a geometric mean value in a range of substantially from 0.1 to 0.3 μm; and d) a degree of recristallization of the zirconium alloy being less than or equal to 10% and a sample of the zirconium alloy, after a recristallization annealing with a degree of recrystallization of the sample of zirconium alloy of 97±2%, having a grain size with a geometric mean value less than or substantially equal to 3 μm.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
253 words
A structural part for a nuclear reactor fuel assembly, comprising: a) a zirconium alloy material having at least one alloy ingredient selected from the group consisting of oxygen and silicon, a tin alloy ingredient, at least one alloy ingredient selected from the group consisting of iron, chromium and nickel, and a remainder of zirconium and unavoidable contaminants; b) the zirconium alloy material having a content of the oxygen in a range of substantially from 700 to 2000 ppm, a content of the silicon of substantially up to 150 ppm, a content of the iron in a range of substantially from 0.07 to 0.5% by weight, a content of the chromium in a range of substantially from 0.05 to 0.35% by weight, a content of the nickel of substantially up to 0.1% by weight, and a content of the tin in a range of substantially from 0.8 to 1.7% by weight; c) the alloy ingredients selected from the group consisting of iron, chromium and nickel being precipitated out of a matrix of the zirconium alloy as secondary phases, having a diameter with a geometric mean value in a range of substantially from 0.1 to 0.3 μm; and d) a degree of recristallization of the zirconium alloy being less than or equal to 10% and a sample of the zirconium alloy, after a recristallization annealing with a degree of recrystallization of the sample of zirconium alloy of 97±2%, having a grain size with a geometric mean value less than or substantially equal to 3 μm.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
45 words
The structural part according to claim 1, wherein the content of iron is in a range of substantially from 0.07 to 0.3% by weight, and the content of chromium is in a range of substantially from 0.05 to 0.15% by weight, in said zirconium alloy.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The structural part according to claim 1, wherein said zirconium alloy has a texture with a Kearns parameter f r wherein 0.6≦f r ≦1.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The structural part according to claim 1, wherein said zirconium alloy has a texture with a Kearns parameter f r wherein 0.6≦f r ≦0.8.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
The structural part according to claim 1, wherein the content of tin in said zirconium alloy is in a range of substantially from 0.9 to 1.1% by weight.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
The structural part according to claim 1, wherein the contents of said alloy ingredients iron and chromium in said zirconium alloy are in a ratio of substantially 2:1.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
49 words
The structural part according to claim 1, wherein the contents of said alloy ingredients iron and chromium in said zirconium alloy are in a ratio of substantially 2:1, and the contents of said alloy ingredients iron and chromium have a sum of substantially 0.4 to 0.6 % by weight.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
The structural part according to claim 1, wherein contents of said alloy ingredients iron and chromium have a sum of substantially 0.4 to 0.6% by weight.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
The structural part according to claim 6, wherein the contents of said alloy ingredients iron and chromium have a sum of substantially 0.4% by weight.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
88 words
The structural part according to claim 1, wherein the content of oxygen is in a range of substantially from 1000 to 1800 ppm, the content of silicon is in a range of substantially from 80 to 120 ppm, the content of iron is in a range of substantially from 0.35 to 0.45% by weight, the content of chromium is in a range of substantially from 0.2 to 0.3 % by weight, and the content of tin is in a range of substantially from 1 to 1.2% by weight.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
13 words
The structural part according to claim 2, wherein said zirconium alloy is Zircaloy-2.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
13 words
The structural part according to claim 2, wherein said zirconium alloy is Zircaloy-4.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
266 words
A structural part formed of a casing tube of a nuclear fuel-filled fuel rod or a spacer for a fuel rod of a nuclear reactor fuel assembly, comprising: a) a zirconium alloy material having at least one alloy ingredient selected from the group consisting of oxygen and silicon, a tin alloy ingredient, at least one alloy ingredient selected from the group consisting of iron, chromium and nickel, and a remainder of zirconium and unavoidable contaminants; b) the zirconium alloy material having a content of the oxygen in a range of substantially from 700 to 2000 ppm, a content of the silicon of substantially up to 150 ppm, a content of the iron in a range of substantially from 0.07 to 0.5% by weight, a content of the chromium in a range of substantially from 0.05 to 0.35% by weight, a content of the nickel of substantially up to 0.1% by weight, and a content of the tin in a range of substantially from 0.8 to 1.7% by weight; c) the alloy ingredients selected from the group consisting of iron, chromium and nickel being precipitated out of a matrix of the zirconium alloy as secondary phases, having a diameter with a geometric mean value in a range of substantially from 0.1 to 3 μm; and d) a degree of recrystallization of the zirconium alloy being less than or equal to 10 % and a sample of the zirconium alloy, after a recrystallization annealing with a degree of recrystallization of 97±2%, having a grain size with a geometric mean value less than or substantially equal to 3 μm.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
266 words
A structural part formed of a casing tube of a nuclear fuel-filled fuel rod or a spacer for a fuel rod of a nuclear reactor fuel assembly, comprising: a) a zirconium alloy material having at least one alloy ingredient selected from the group consisting of oxygen and silicon, a tin alloy ingredient, at least one alloy ingredient selected from the group consisting of iron, chromium and nickel, and a remainder of zirconium and unavoidable contaminants; b) the zirconium alloy material having a content of the oxygen in a range of substantially from 700 to 2000 ppm, a content of the silicon of substantially up to 150 ppm, a content of the iron in a range of substantially from 0.07 to 0.5% by weight, a content of the chromium in a range of substantially from 0.05 to 0.35% by weight, a content of the nickel of substantially up to 0.1% by weight, and a content of the tin in a range of substantially from 0.8 to 1.7% by weight; c) the alloy ingredients selected from the group consisting of iron, chromium and nickel being precipitated out of a matrix of the zirconium alloy as secondary phases, having a diameter with a geometric mean value in a range of substantially from 0.1 to 3 μm; and d) a degree of recrystallization of the zirconium alloy being less than or equal to 10 % and a sample of the zirconium alloy, after a recrystallization annealing with a degree of recrystallization of 97±2%, having a grain size with a geometric mean value less than or substantially equal to 3 μm.
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