Zirconium alloy resistant to corrosion in drop shadows for a fuel assembly component for a boiling water reactor, component produced using said alloy, fuel assembly, and use of same

摘要

A zirconium alloy that is resistant to shadow corrosion for a boiling water nuclear reactor fuel assembly component, the alloy being characterized in that:
its composition in percentages by weight is as follows:
Nb=0.4%-4.5%Sn=0.20%-1.7%Fe=0.05%-0.45%Fe+Cr+Ni+V=0.05%-0.45%, with Nb≦9×[0.5−(Fe+Cr+V+Ni)]S=traces-400 ppmC=traces-200 ppmSi=traces-120 ppmO=600 ppm-1800 ppmthe balance being Zr and impurities from processing;in that, during fabrication, after its last hot deformation, it is subjected to one or more heat treatments lying in the range 450° C. to 610° C. for a total duration of at least 4 h, with at least one cold rolling operation with a rolling ratio of at least 25%; andin that a final heat treatment operation is performed at a temperature in the range 450° C. to 610° C. for 1 minute to 20 hours.;A fuel assembly component made of the alloy, a fuel assembly including the component, and the use thereof.

主权项

1. A boiling water nuclear reactor fuel assembly, comprising:
components comprising a zirconium alloy that is resistant to shadow corrosion for a boiling water nuclear reactor fuel assembly component, the alloy having a composition in percentages by weight comprising: Nb=0.4% -4.5%; Sn=0.20% -1.7%; Fe=0.05% -0.45%; Fe+Cr+Ni+V=0.05% -0.45%, with Nb9 ×[0.5−(Fe+Cr+V+Ni)]; S=traces -400 ppm; C=traces -200 ppm; Si=traces -120 ppm; O=600 ppm -1800 ppm; and the balance being Zr and impurities from processing; wherein, during fabrication, after the alloy's last hot deformation, the alloy is subjected to one or more heat treatments at a temperature lying in the range 450° C. to 610° C. for a total duration of at least 4 hours, with at least one cold rolling operation with a rolling ratio of at least 25%, no heat treatment subsequent to the hot deformation exceeding 610° C.; and wherein a final heat treatment operation is performed at a temperature lying in the range 450° C. to 610° C. for a duration lying in the range 1 minute to 20 hours; and wherein at least some of the components are placed in galvanic coupling conditions with other components made of alloy based on Ni or on stainless steel.