Home/Questions/Q 1751
Next
In Process
[Deleted User]
Asked: 2020-06-05T11:31:28+05:30 In:

why zirconium used in nuclear reactors ?

why zirconium used in nuclear reactors ?
Share

    You must login to add an answer.

    Need An Account,

    5 Answers

    1. Platinum⭐ Metallurgical and Materials Engineering student

      Zirconium is used in nuclear reactors to provide the cladding, or outer covering, for the cylindrical fuel rods that power a nuclear reaction. Packed inside the zirconium cladding are pellets of uranium oxide or other fissionable materials. Zirconium is the metal of choice in this application becausRead more

      Zirconium is used in nuclear reactors to provide the cladding, or outer covering, for the cylindrical fuel rods that power a nuclear reaction. Packed inside the zirconium cladding are pellets of uranium oxide or other fissionable materials.

      Zirconium is the metal of choice in this application because it absorbs relatively few of the neutrons produced in a fission reaction and because the metal is highly resistant to both heat and chemical corrosion.

      Low neutron absorption is vital to any structural material used in a nuclear reactor because large numbers of neutrons produced by the reaction must be free to interact simultaneously with all the nuclear fuel confined inside hundreds of fuel rods. This interaction sustains the necessary chain reaction throughout the reactor’s core.

      See less
      • 2
    2. Platinum⭐ Gate aspirant.
      This answer was edited.

      To understand this let's first discuss the properties of Zr : Zr have high hardness & strength, ductility , Corrosion resistant, small thermal neutrons capture cross-section. This is important property as material with large neutron capture cross section will absorb them when hit in the wall andRead more

      To understand this let’s first discuss the properties of Zr :

      Zr have

      • high hardness & strength,
      • ductility ,
      • Corrosion resistant,
      • small thermal neutrons capture cross-section. This is important property as material with large neutron capture cross section will absorb them when hit in the wall and reduce the chain reaction efficiency.

       

      But we need to understand that’s it’s not the property of Zr but Zircalloys;

      Zr+Hf had initially large thermal netron capture cross-section which allowed them to cause dysfunction in the reactors and was less corrosion resistant.

      But Zr-95% + alloys like Fe, Ni; this alloys had very good corrosion resistant and other properties associated as well.

      Now the application of Zr was

      • In fuel rods as cladding.
      • In grids
      • In guide tubes of water reactors
      • Pressure pipes
      • Exhaust water reactor vessels.

      Cladding is the more important function as it avoids direct contact between the fission products and retains them.

      Zr alloy emerges due to its properties as suitable refractory materials for nuclear reactors.

      However it has some problems as high Temperature hydrogen embrittlement.

       

      See less
      • 1
    3. Copper

      Zirconium is used to hold the fuel rod pellets and it is used because of its low absorption cross-section.

      Zirconium is used to hold the fuel rod pellets and it is used because of its low absorption cross-section.

      See less
      • 0
    4. Gold

      1. Zirconium is used in the cladding of the fuel rods. The cladding is the first barrier to fission gas product containment. If the cladding gets a perforation in it, fission gases escape. This is noted in the plant by increasing condenser off gas radiation levels. Control rods are then generally inRead more

      1. Zirconium is used in the cladding of the fuel rods. The cladding is the first barrier to fission gas product containment. If the cladding gets a perforation in it, fission gases escape. This is noted in the plant by increasing condenser off gas radiation levels. Control rods are then generally inserted near the failed location to decrease the local flux and therefore the radiological release.

      See less
      • 0
    5. Gold

      2. Zr alloys have been widely used in the nuclear industry because of their very low thermal neutron absorption cross-section and good resistance to high temperature and pressure corrosion. France, the United States, Germany, and Russia have developed a series of zirconium alloys for nuclear use. AtRead more

      2. Zr alloys have been widely used in the nuclear industry because of their very low thermal neutron absorption cross-section and good resistance to high temperature and pressure corrosion. France, the United States, Germany, and Russia have developed a series of zirconium alloys for nuclear use. At present, Zr-2, Zr-4, Zr2.5nb and ZIRLO, E635, M5, and NDA zirconium alloys have been successfully applied in nuclear industry. These newly developed zirconium alloys have lower radiation creep properties and better resistance to iodine stress corrosion. In addition, they are able to meet the requirements of high burnup of the fuel assemblies, increasing the service life of the assemblies to 30 years.

      By Cathie Montanez
      Source: Quora

      See less
      • 0