Abstract
The fuel rod claddings in nuclear light water reactors are made of zirconium alloys. Corrosion of these alloys during operation and in particular high temperature oxidation during nuclear accidents results in the production of free hydrogen. The cladding can absorb this hydrogen. It affects the mechanical properties of the cladding material. Hydrogen embrittlement of these materials provides the risk of brittle fracture of the cladding by thermo-shock during emergency cooling. At KIT the behaviour of cladding materials under different hypothetical nuclear accident scenarios was investigated. One focus was on hydrogen absorption and distribution/re-distribution in the alloys. The hydrogen distribution was determined mainly by neutron tomography. Examples for the determination of the 3D hydrogen distribution in cladding tubes after loss of coolant accident simulation tests are given and discussed.
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