Westinghouse Electric Corporation

Westinghouse Electric Company LLC

Westinghouse Electric Sweden Ab

Robert J Comstock

John P Foster

George P Sabol

Samuel A Worcester

Anand M Garde

Mats Dahlback

Jonna Partezana Mundorff

Guirong Pan

Andrew Atwood

Andrew J Mueller

Lars Hallstadius

James T Dougherty

Mats Dahlbäck

Francis Cellier

William A Jacobsen

Michael A McClarren

John Bates

Penney File

Steven J King

James A Boshers

Hsiang Ken Yueh

Dianna Lynn Svec Nuhfer

Ronald Kesterson

Terrence Cook

David Colburn

Anand Garde

Michael Mcclarren

Ken Yueh Hsiang

Steven King

The invention relates to zirconium-based alloys and articles produced therefrom, such as tubing or strips, which have at least one of excellent corrosion resistance to water or steam and creep resistance at elevated temperatures in a nuclear reactor. The alloys include from about 0.2 to 1.5 weight percent niobium, from about 0.01 to 0.6 weight percent iron, from about 0.0 to 0.8 weight percent tin, from about 0.0 to 0.5 weight percent chromium, from about 0.0 to 0.3 weight percent copper, from about 0.0 to 0.3 weight percent vanadium, and from about 0.0 to 0.1 weight percent nickel with the balance at least 97 weight percent zirconium, including impurities. Further, the articles are formed by processes that include final heat treatment of (i) SRA or PRXA (0-33% RXA), or (ii) RXA or PRXA (80-100% RXA).

Zirconium alloys with improved corrosion/creep resistance

Articles, such as tubing or strips, which have excellent corrosion resistance to water or steam at elevated temperatures, are produced from alloys having 0.2 to 1.5 weight percent niobium, 0.01 to 0.6 weight percent iron, and optionally additional alloy elements selected from the group consisting of tin, chromium, copper, vanadium, and nickel with the balance at least 97 weight percent zirconium, including impurities, where a necessary final heat treatment includes one of i) a SRA or PRXA (15-20% RXA) final heat treatment, or ii) a PRXA (80-95% RXA) or RXA final heat treatment.

Zirconium alloys with improved corrosion/creep resistance due to final heat treatments

A method of manufacturing an optimized sheet metal () of a zirconium based alloy is described, which optimized sheet metal () defines a sheet plane (BA). The method comprises the steps of providing a sheet metal () of a zirconium based. alloy, subjecting the sheet metal () to at least a preparing cold rolling and a final cold rolling, wherein the preparing cold rolling and the final cold rolling are both performed in a common rolling direction, and heat treating the sheet metal () between the preparing cold rolling and the final cold rolling so that the zirconium based alloy is partially re-crystallized. A method of manufacturing a spacer grid using an optimized sheet metal () according to the invention is also described.

Spacer grid for positioning of fuel rods

This is an alloy comprising, by weight percent, 0.5-2.0 niobium, 0.7-1.5 tin, 0.07-0.14 iron, and 0.03-0.14 of at least one of nickel and chromium, and at least 0.12 total of iron, nickel and chromium, and up to 220 ppm C, and the balance essentially zirconium. Preferably, the alloy contains 0.03-0.08 chromium, and 0.03-0.08 nickel. The alloy is also preferably subjected intermediate recrystallization anneals at a temperature of about 1200.degree.-1300.degree. F., and to a beta quench two steps prior to final size.

Method of producing zirlo material for light water reactor applications

This invention is for the processing of a somewhat broader range of compositions, including ZIRLO material. It controls creep rate in an alloy having, by weight percent, 0.5-2.0 niobium, 0.7-1.5 tin, 0.07-0.28 of at least one of iron, nickel and chromium and up to 220 ppm carbon, and the balance essentially zirconium. The method is of a type which utilizes subjecting the material to a post extrusion anneal, a series of intermediate area reductions and intermediate recrystallization anneals, with one of the intermediate recrystallization anneals possibly being a late stage beta-quench, a final pass area reduction, and a final stress relief anneal. The creep rate is controlled to about the desired amount per hour by the use of an average intermediate recrystallization annealing temperature and a final pass area reduction combination selected from the designated area of a designated figure, with the figure being selected based on whether the post extrusion anneal was an alpha or a beta anneal; on whether the final anneal was a stress relief anneal or a recrystallization anneal, and whether or not a late stage beta-quench was utilized, and the desired creep rate range. The method may also comprise subjecting the material to an alpha post extrusion anneal and a final stress relief anneal, and controlling the creep rate by the use of certain intermediate recrystallization annealing temperatures and final pass true area reductions.

Processing zirconium alloy used in light water reactors for specified

Zirlo material for light water reactor applications

Processes for the rapid alpha annealing of zirconium based articles are described. These processes utilize induction heating to rapidly heat a worked zirconium based article to an elevated temperature after which it is then cooled. Time at the selected elevated temperature is less than about 1 second, and preferably essentially zero. Stress relieving of cold pilgered Zircaloy may be performed by induction heating to a temperature between about 540.degree. and about 650.degree. C. Partial recrystallization annealing of cold pilgered Zircaloy may be performed by induction heating to a temperature between about 650.degree. and about 760.degree. C. Full alpha recrystallization annealing of cold pilgered Zircaloy may be performed by induction heating to a temperature between about 760.degree. and about 900.degree. C.

Annealing of zirconium based articles by induction heating

The crystallographic texture of metallic tubular articles is characterized by an X-ray diffraction technique where X-rays are directed onto the surface of the tubular article and diffracted X-rays detected by use of a position-sensitive detector. By effecting relative movement of the tubular article and the X-ray source in both a rotational direction about the axis of the tube and in an axial direction, and measuring intensities from multiple Bragg peaks of the diffracted X-rays from a plurality of locations on the tube, the crystallographic texture of the tube is characterized.

Method for monitoring the crystallographic texture of metallic tubes by

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Irwin, PA, United States of America

Robert J Comstock