EFFECT OF IODINE AND MOISTURE ON THE MICROSTRUCTURE OF ZIRCALOY-4 UNDER SERVICE CONDITION IN PHWR

Fuel failures are always a cause of concern in any nuclear reactors as it increases the manrem consumption of radiation workers. Although performance of the fuels in pressurized heavy water reactors is good, but still fuel failures occur occasionally. Post irradiation examination (PIE) of the failed fuel elements indicates internal hydriding, not deuteriding, as a major cause for the failures, although secondary deuteriding occurs and, in a few cases, failures are associated with defects in the end plug weld. The sources of hydrogen are either fuel pellets or the clad or the graphite coating. Restriction has been imposed on maximum content of total hydrogen in the fuel element to 1 mg to prevent hydriding of the Zircaloy clad tube. Accidental pick up of hydrogen occurs, which could lead to failure of the fuel bundles. Experimental investigations have been conducted to understand the individual effect of iodine and accidental pick up of moisture on the microstructure of Zircaloy-4 end cap welded samples with graphite coating. Results indicate that severe hydriding in Zircaloy-4 samples due to the existence of internal moisture in presence of graphite under service condition may result in fuel failure and justifies the findings of PIE.