Method and apparatus utilizing first and second heating devices for heat treating a fuel assembly channel with induction heating

US7495197B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• AREVA NP · FR

Inventors

• Maximilian Körzendörfer · Forchheim, DE
• Andreas Mockel · Großenseebach, DE
• Bernd Block · Erlangen, DE
• Hans-Joachim Lippert · Hochstädt, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 28, 2006
• Grant date: Feb 24, 2009
• Expiry date: Feb 27, 2027

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02P10/25
• WIPO field: Materials, metallurgy
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

In a method for heat treating a fuel assembly channel made of zircaloy, the channel is continuously moved relative to a heat-treatment device and, longitudinal sections of it are heated to the beta phase range in an inductive heating zone. The longitudinal section of the channel heated in this manner is than cooled in a cooling zone to a temperature within an alpha phase range. The heat treatment is effected by at least two heating devices, which are spaced apart from one another, operate independently of each other, and each contain at least one induction coil and together form a heating zone. The channel section is first heated using a first heating device and then heat-treated using a second heating device which has less power and in that cooling is effected using a stream of inert gas applied to the outer surface of the channel.