Abstract
The failure of a Zircaloy-2 pressure tube in Pickering Unit 2 in August 1983 has been found to have been caused by an accelerated pickup rate of deuterium, contact between the pressure tube and its surrounding calandria tube, and rapid growth of zirconium hydride blisters.The pressure tubes in all later CANDU reactors are made from a zirconium-niobium alloy. Examination of several Zircaloy-2 and zirconium niobium pressure tubes from different reactors has clearly shown that the deuterium pickup rate of the two materials is significantly different. The zirconium niobium pressure tubes have absorbed very little deuterium and they do not appear to be susceptible to the type of failure experienced at Pickering Unit 2.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
