• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.52 no.8
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• pp.1742-1748
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• 2020

TSSD, TSSP, and TSSP2 of hydrogen for optimized-Zirlo (Zirlo™) alloy were measured by DSC in the range of 53-457 wppm. Solvus curves of the TSSs are derived and proposed in this study. The results show that the temperature gap between TSSD and TSSP solvus lines of Zirlo™ are similar to those of other zirconium alloys, but another gap between the TSSD and TSSP2 line differs significantly. In particular, the TSSP2 solvus line becomes closer to the TSSD solvus line than to TSSP unlike Zircaloy-4, so ΔT_TSSD-TSSP2 of Zirlo™ decreases with decreasing temperature. This implies that hydride reorientation can take place more significantly in Zirlo™ than in Zircaloy-4, and the limited temperature variation of 65 ℃ during the vacuum drying and the cooling-down process may not be sufficient to prevent the triggering of hydride reorientation in Zirlo™ cladding under long-term dry storage.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.211-218
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• 2015

The reaction rates of ZIRLO cladding hulls with cross-section openings were investigated using a thermo-gravimetric analysis system in order to identify whether selective recovery of Zr from oxidized cladding hulls is possible. The experimental results showed that an oxidized ZIRLO cladding hull was not reactive with chlorine gas at 400℃. However, providing fresh cross-sections on one or both ends of the ZIRLO hulls enabled a chlorination reaction. This reaction was completed after 8 hours; a 14% increase on the 7 hours seen with a bare ZIRLO cladding hull. The Sharp-Hancock plot analysis results revealed that the contracting volume model is the best for describing the reaction between the cross-section opened ZIRLO hulls and chlorine gas under the condition of this work. It was concluded that the chlorination process can be employed for oxidized ZIRLO cladding hulls by providing cross-section openings.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Surface Engineering Conference
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• 2001.06a
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• pp.52-52
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• 2001

지르칼로이-4와 장주기 고연소도용으로 개발된 신피복관인 Zirlo에 대해 LOCA 사고시 피복관이 노출되는 온도영역에서 대기압 조건에서 산화실험을 수행하였다. 온도범위는 $700{\;}-{\;}1200^{\circ}C$이다. 산화시간, 온도 에 따른 산화속도 모델이 제시되었다. 지르칼로이-4는 $1000^{\circ}C$이하의 대가압 수증기에서 3차 법칙을 따르는 반면에, Zirlo는 지속적으로 2차 법칙을 따르는 것으로 나타났다. $1000^{\circ}C$ 이상에선 Zirlo의 내부식성이 더 높게 평가되었다. 두 합금의 산화거동차이를 분석하기 위해 산화된 시편을 광학현미경으로 비교하였다. $1000^{\circ}C$ 이상 고온에서 Zirlo의 금 속내 $\alpha$상의 성장률이 지르칼로이-4에 비해 더 빨라, $\alpha$상이 더 넓게 분포하는 것으로 나타났다. 피복관 표면에 이미 존재하는 산화막은 지르칼로이-4와 Zirlo 모두 일정시간 동안 보호성을 유지하는 것으로 나타났다.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.52 no.2
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• pp.352-359
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• 2020

The effects of hydrogen precipitation on the mechanical properties of Zircaloy-4 and Zirlo alloys were examined with uniaxial tensile tests at room temperature and at 400 ℃ and accompanying microstructural changes in the Zircaloy-4 and Zirlo alloy specimens were discussed. The elastic moduli of Zircaloy-4 and Zirlo alloys decreased with increasing hydrogen concentrations. Yield strengths of both materials tended to decrease gradually. The reductions of yield stress seems to be caused by the dissipation of yield point phenomena shown in stress-strain curves. Ultimate tensile strengths (UTS) of Zircaloy-4 and Zirlo slightly increased at low hydrogen contents, and then decreased when the concentrations exceeded 500 and 700 wppm, respectively. Uniform elongations were stable until 600 wppm and drops to 0% around 1400 wppm at room temperature.

• Proceedings of the Korean Nuclear Society Conference
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• 2001.05a
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• pp.312.2-312
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• 2001

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.35 no.8
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• pp.889-897
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• 2011

In this work, we investigated the theoretical forming limit models for Zircaloy-4 and Zirlo used for spacer grid of nuclear fuel rods. Tensile and anisotropy tests were performed to obtain stress-strain curves and anisotropic coefficients. The experimental forming limit diagrams (FLD) for two materials were obtained by dome stretching tests following NUMISHEET 96. Theoretical FLD depends on FL models and yield criteria. To obtain the right hand side (RHS) of FLD, we applied the FL models (Swift's diffuse necking, M-K theory, S-R vertex theory) to Zircaloy-4 and Zirlo sheets. Hill's local necking theory was adopted for the left hand side (LHS) of FLD. To consider the anisotropy of sheets, the yield criteria of Hill and Hosford were applied. Comparing the predicted curves with the experimental data, we found that the RHS of FLD for Zircaloy-4 can be described by the Swift model (with the Hill's criterion), while the LHS of the FLD can be explained by Hill model. The FLD for Zirlo can be explained by the S-R model and the Hosford's criterion (a = 8).

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.143-148
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• 2009

The increasing power and other demands on PWR fuel is leading to a demand for cladding that has low corrosion but that should also be robust with regard to mechanical behavior, impact of the irradiation environment and the coolant chemistry. The Optimized $ZIRLO^{TM}$ cladding is an evolutionary development of $ZIRLO^{TM}$ taking advantage of the long experience of the ZIRLO cladding but has significantly improved corrosion behavior. Recently, operation of Optimized ZIRLO to above 73 kWd/kgU has shown a reduction of the corrosion of almost 50%.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Surface Engineering Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.127-128
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• 2003

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.179-186
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• 2009

This paper presents a thermal creep test under internal pressure and post-test characterization performed on high burnup (68 MWd/kgU) ZIRLO. This research has been done by the CSN, ENRESA, and ENUSA in order to investigate the behavior of advanced cladding materials in contemporary PWRs at higher burnup under dry cask storage conditions. Also, to investigate the hydride reorientation, the cool-down of the samples after the test has been done in a coordinated manner with the internal pressure. The creep results obtained are consistent with the expected behavior from reference CWSR material, Zr-4. During the test, the material retained significant ductility: one specimen leaked during the test at an engineering strain of the tube section of 17%; remarkably, the crack closed due to de-pressurization. Although significant hydride reorientation occurred during the cool-down under pressure, no specimen failed during the cool-down.

• Tribology and Lubricants
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.250-255
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• 2009

Oxidation characteristics of Zirlo and Zircaloy-4 tubes, which are widely used as nuclear power fuel cladding, are studied in steam environment up to $1200^{\circ}C$. Oxidation resistances are compared in terms of the mass increase due to the absorption of oxygen. The evolution of microscopic structure accompanied with the oxidation process is investigated. Also, the influence of oxidation on the fretting wear characteristics of the tubes is studied. Piezo-electrically actuated rig is employed to fret the tubes with cross-contacting arrangement. Wear scar is observed and measured, by using microscopes and a 3D-profiler. The results of fretting wear are quantified in terms of scar size, wear volume and wear coefficient, and compared for the three different tube materials of oxidated Zirlo, virgin Zirlo and Zircaloy-4.