Materials surveillance program for the OPAL research reactor
Loading...
Date
2007-03-11
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
European Nuclear Society
Abstract
The OPAL research reactor has recently achieved full power and will begin normal operation in the early part of 2007. One aspect of the design of OPAL has been the inclusion of a surveillance program for the materials used in the reactor core regions. These materials are exposed to a high neutron flux and their properties, such as tensile strength, fracture toughness and physical dimensions (through radiation-induced growth), are expected to change through the life of the reactor. Estimates of these changes have been obtained from literature data and have been accommodated in the design. However, data at the operating temperature of OPAL is limited. In order to guarantee safe operation of these materials, a surveillance program was developed during the detailed design phase of the project. The program involves the placement of miniature samples in high flux regions close to the reactor core. These samples will be removed at intervals and will be subjected to extensive mechanical testing to determine any changes compared with samples in the unirradiated condition. Additional samples will be sectioned from other high-fluence components that will be removed well before the 40 year design life. © The Authors
Description
Keywords
Aluminium alloys, Monitoring, OPAL Reactor, Reactor materials, Zirconium alloys, ANSTO
Citation
Harrison, R. P., Carr, D. G., Wei, T., & Stathers, P. A. (2007). Materials surveillance program for the OPAL research reactor. Paper presented to RRFM/IGORR 2007, Lyon, France, 11 - 15 March 2007. In Transactions, 11th International Topical Meeting, Research Reactor Fuel Management (RRFM) and Meeting of the International Group on Reactor Research (IGORR). Centre de Congrès, Lyon, France 11– 15 March 2007. Retrieved from: https://inis.iaea.org/collection/NCLCollectionStore/_Public/39/023/39023398.pdf