Measurement of the resistance to hydriding of tubes and tubular claddings of elements made of metal, metal alloys and any other material with and without protective coatings.
The hydriding of metallic industrial components is one of the causes of their becoming brittle and their catastrophic fracture due to the formation of cracks. This process takes place in components in contact with water under pressure and at high temperature, and also when hydrogen is being handled or produced as a consequence of a secondary process. A case that has been known for some years is the hydriding of the tubular claddings of fuel in the cores of nuclear reactors, which is produced from the inner surface of the cladding as a consequence of a primary fault in their sealing weld. So far, the measurement of the resistance to hydriding of metals and alloys has been done by means of thermogravimetry and morphological studies of hydriding processes of metal pieces in an autoclave, which in some cases, such as the hydriding of tubular claddings of fuel, represents working conditions different from those in which the hydriding of the component takes place.
The determination of the resistance to hydriding of these tube components is of special economic relevance since the appropriate choice of the component would permit a reduction in the shutdowns of commercial reactors due to the secondary fault already mentioned. This possible improvement will also permit a greater utilisation of the fuel by making it more robust, and a diminution in the mass of high-activity nuclear waste for an equal amount of energy generated. By eliminating a source of fuel debris leak from the components of the reactor the radiation dose received by maintenance personnel and by whoever has to carry out operations in the energy interchange areas is thus reduced.
The present invention, as claimed, refers to a method of measuring the resistance to hydriding of tubes and tubular claddings and an apparatus arranged to measure said resistance to hydriding of tubes and tubular claddings.
The method of measuring the resistance to hydriding of tubes and tubular claddings is characterised by the following steps:
The apparatus arranged to measure the resistance to hydriding of tubes and tubular claddings is characterised by:
FIG. 1. Permeation curve and determination of the permeation time.
FIG. 2. Determination of the deformation time of the microcrack.
FIG. 3. Flow curve for total pressure.
FIG. 4. Flow curve for partial pressures.
FIG. 5. Diagram of the device for measuring the resistance of tubes to hydriding.
The process and device for measuring the resistance to hydriding of tubes and tubular claddings of elements made of metal, metal alloys and any other material with and without protective coatings, comprises:
I) A procedure for determining the resistance to hydriding, at different temperatures, of tubes made of metal and other materials, with or without protective coatings.
The procedure comprises measuring permeation of hydrogen in tubes by means of mass spectrometry, for which the tubes is inserted in high or ultra-high vacuum equipment containing a mass spectrometer and a total pressure gauge; hydrogen gas or mixtures of hydrogen gas and inert gas(es) is made to circulate through the interior at the required partial pressure. The tube heats up due to the Joule effect and the appearance of hydrogen gas in the exterior of the tube is observed by means of the mass spectrometer or the total pressure gauge, with its flow via the tube and its appearance time, called the permeation time, being determined on the basis of the permeation curves, FIG. 1. The determination is also made of the appearance time of the first microcrack, detected by the sudden rise of the total pressures,
II) The equipment constructed for carrying out that procedure.
The equipment (
The heating method followed here is the direct one, with the current being made to pass through the tube. This method reduces the degasification effect of other components to the minimum, and any indirect method can be used as an alternative. In our case, the tube is heated by an alternating current in order to prevent electromigration effects. Direct current can also be used in those cases in which this phenomenon is not expected. In the present device, one of the ends of the sample is secured by means of a flexible termination of the ultra-high vacuum chamber of the system, which, by means of a mechanical device, permits compensation of the longitudinal compression caused by atmospheric pressure. This mechanism also enables longitudinal tensions and compressions to be applied to the tube.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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200002256 | Sep 2000 | ES | national |
This is a continuation of International Application No. PCT/E301/00350, filed Sept. 14, 2001.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20030185333 A1 | Oct 2003 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | PCTES01/00350 | Sep 2001 | US |
Child | 10388328 | US |