Patent · US Expired

Nuclear fuel rod and method of manufacturing the cladding of such a rod

US5373541A · kind A · utility

25Cited by
8References
10Claims
0Family size

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Key dates

Filing dateJan 19, 1993
Grant dateDec 13, 1994
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 19, 2013

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02E30/30
  • WIPO fieldMaterials, metallurgy
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

A nuclear fuel rod cladding for a water moderated and nuclear reactor comprises an inner portion of Zircaloy 4 and an outer portion of a zirconium-based alloy which contains by weight, besides zirconium and unavoidable impurities: PA1 0.35% to 0.65% tin PA1 0.18% to 0.25% iron PA1 0.07% to 0.13% chromium, and PA1 0.19% to 0.23% oxygen, with the sum of the iron, chromium, tin, and oxygen contents being less than 1.26% by weight. It may alternatively or additionally comprise 0.80% to 1.20% by weight niobium and then the oxygen content is in the range 0.10% to 0.16% by weight. The thickness of the outer layer is 10% to 25% of the total thickness of the cladding. In a modification, up to 0.5% of iron, chromium, niobium is replaced by an equivalent content of vanadium.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.