• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.55 no.7
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• pp.2591-2603
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• 2023

Simulating the Corrosion-Related Unidentified Deposit (CRUD) on the surface of fuel assemblies is necessary to predict the axial offset anomaly and the localized corrosion induced by the CRUD during the operation of nuclear power plants. A new CRUD model was developed to predict the formation of the CRUD deposits, considering the deposition and erosion mechanisms. The heat transfer and capillary flow within the CRUD were also considered to evaluate the boiling amount within the CRUD layer. This model predicted a CRUD deposit thickness of 44 ㎛ during a one-cycle operation of the Seabrook nuclear power plant. The CRUD deposition tended to accelerate and decelerate during the simulation, by being related to boiling mechanism on the deposits surface. Additionally, during a three-cycle operation corresponding to the refueling period, the CRUD deposition was saturated at a thickness of 80 ㎛, which was in good agreement with the suggested thickness for CRUD buildupin pressurized water reactors. Surface boiling on the thin CRUD deposits enhanced the acceleration of the deposition, even when the wick boiling properties were not favorable for CRUD deposition. To ensure the certainty of the simulation results, sensitivity analyses were conducted for the porosity, chimney density, and the constants employed in the proposed model of the CRUD.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.56 no.6
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• pp.2099-2112
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• 2024

This study examined the effects of CRUD on reflood heat transfer behaviors of nuclear fuel rods during a loss-of-coolant-accident (LOCA) in a pressurized water reactor using a best-estimate thermal-hydraulic analysis code. Changes in thermal properties and boiling heat transfer characteristics of the CRUD layer were extensively reviewed, and a set of correction factors to reflect the changes was implemented into the code. A heat structure layer reflecting the effects of CRUDs on the properties was added to the outer surface of the fuel cladding. Numerical simulations were conducted to examine the effects of CRUDs on reflood cooling of overheated fuel rods for representative separate and integral effect tests, FLECHT-SEASET and LOFT. In LOFT analysis, the average cladding temperature was increased due to the low thermal conductivity of CRUD during steady-state operation; however, in both analyses, the peak cladding temperature decreased, and the quenching time was reduced. Obtained results revealed that when the porous CRUD layer is deposited on the fuel cladding, two opposite effects appear. Low thermal conductivity of the CRUD layer always increases fuel temperature during normal operation; however, its hydrophilic porous structures may contribute to accelerated reflood cooling of fuel rods during a LOCA.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.668-674
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• 2017

Experimental verification of boron species in fuel CRUD (Chalk River Unidentified Deposit) would provide essential and important information about the root cause of CRUD-induced power shifts (CIPS). To date, only bonaccordite and elemental boron were reported to exist in fuel CRUD in CIPS-troubled pressurized water reactor (PWR) cores and lithium tetraborate to exist in simulated PWR fuel CRUD from some autoclave tests. We have reevaluated previous analysis of similar threadlike crystals along with examining some similar threadlike crystals from CRUD samples collected from a PWR cycle that had no indications of CIPS. These threadlike crystals have a typical [Ni]/[Fe] atomic ratio of ~2 and similar crystal morphology as the one (bonaccordite) reported previously. In addition to electron diffraction study, we have applied electron energy loss spectroscopy to determine boron content in such a crystal and found a good agreement with that of bonaccordite. Surprisingly, such crystals seem to appear also on corroded surfaces of Alloy 600 that was exposed to simulated PWR primary water with a dissolved hydrogen level of $5mL\;H_2/kg\;H_2O$, but absent when exposed under $75mL\;H_2/kg\;H_2O$ condition. It remains to be verified as to what extent and in which chemical environment this phase would be formed in PWR primary systems.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Pressure Vessels and Piping
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2024

Crud is a corrosion deposit that forms in equipments and piping of nuclear reactor's primary systems. When crud circulates through the reactor's primary system coolant and adheres to the surface of the nuclear fuel cladding tube, it can lead to the Axial Offset Anomaly (AOA) phenomenon. This occurrence is known to potentially reduce the output of a nuclear power plant or to necessitate an early shutdown. Consequently, worldwide nuclear power plants have employed ultrasonic cleaning methods since 2000 to mitigate crud deposition, ensuring stable operation and economic efficiency. This paper details the system configuration of ultrasonic nuclear fuel cleaning equipment, outlining the function of each component. The objective is to contribute to the local domestic production of ultrasonic nuclear fuel cleaning equipment. Additionally, the paper introduces a method for accurately measuring the weight of removed crud, a crucial factor in assessing cleaning effectiveness and providing input data for the BOA code used in core safety evaluations. Accurate measurement of highly radioactive filters containing crud is essential, and weighing them underwater is a common practice. However, the buoyancy effect during underwater weighing may lead to an overestimation of the collected crud's weight. To address this issue, the paper proposes a formula correcting for buoyancy errors, enhancing measurement accuracy. This improved weight measurement method, accounting for buoyancy effects in water, is expected to facilitate the quantitative assessment of filter weights generated during chemical decontamination and system operations in nuclear power plants.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.554-560
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• 2021

CRUD (chalk river unidentified deposits) is a porous material deposited on the surface of nuclear fuel during nuclear power plant operation. The CRUD is composed of metal oxides, such as iron, nickel, and chromium. It is essential to investigate the effects of the CRUD layer on the wall heat transfer between the nuclear fuel surface and the coolant in the event of a nuclear accident. CRUD only negatively affects the temperature of the nuclear fuel due to heat resistance because the effects of the CRUD layer on two-phase boiling heat transfer are not considered. In this study, the physical property models for the porous CRUD layer were developed and implemented into the SPACE code. The effects of boiling heat transfer models on the peak cladding temperature and quenching were investigated by simulating a reflood experiment. The calculation results showed some positive effects of the CRUD layer.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2020

Chalk River Unidentified Deposits (CRUDs) were collected from the Korean pressurized water reactor (PWR) plant (A, B, and C) where the axial offset anomaly (AOA) occurred. AOA, also known as a CRUD-induced power shift, is one of the key issues in maintaining stable PWR plant operations. CRUDs were sampled from spent nuclear fuel rods and analyzed using an electron probe micro-analyzer (EPMA). This paper describes the characteristics of boron-deposits from the CRUDs sampled from twice-burnt assemblies from the Korean PWR. The primary coolant of a PWR contains boron and lithium. It is known that boron deposition occurs in a thick CRUD layer under substantial sub-cooled nucleate boiling (SNB). The results of this study are summarized as follows. Boron was not found at the locations where the existence was confirmed in simulated CRUDs, in other words, the cladding and CRUD boundaries. Nevertheless, we clearly observed the presence of boron and confirmed that boron existed as a lump in crystalline form. In addition, the study confirmed that CRUD existed in a crystal form with a unique size of about 10 ㎛.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.265-271
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• 2018

CRUD specimens, scraped from twice-burned fuel cladding in the Korean Nuclear Power Plant, were analyzed using Shielded-EPMA. The principal elements of the CRUD were identified as Ni and Fe, at an approximate ratio of 1.3 Ni/Fe. To investigate the morphology and composition of the pure metallic materials in the CRUD, coolant impurities must be removed. This can be accomplished by increasing the EPMA current to an abnormally high intensity until the impurities are melted. Normally, EPMA applications are performed at conditions of 20 kV voltage and 20 nA current. But in our study, the applied current was increased up to 1200 nA, over time increments ranging from 5 to 30 seconds. This technique was performed by opening an adjustable aperture for the gun alignment. Results showed impurities contained in the CRUD material disappeared and pure metal materials, e.g., Ni and Fe, remained. This method presents an innovative way to analyze CRUD.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.52 no.12
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• pp.2887-2900
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• 2020

Cladding failure in a fuel rod during operation in a BWR is analyzed using a FALCON code-based model. Comparative calculation with a neighbouring, intact rod is presented, as well. A considerable 'hot spot' effect in cladding temperature is predicted with the SLICE-DO model due to a thermal barrier caused by the localized crud deposition. Particularly significant overheating is expected to occur on the affected side of the cladding of the failed rod, in agreement with signs of significant localized crud deposition as revealed by Post Irradiation Examination. Different possibilities (criteria) are checked, and Pellet-Cladding Mechanical Interaction (PCMI) is shown to be one of the plausible potential threats. It is shown that PCMI could lead to discernible concentrated inelastic deformation in the overheated part of the cladding. None of the specific mechanisms considered can be experimentally or analytically identified as an only cause of the rod failure. However, according to the current calculation, a possibility of cladding failure by PCMI cannot be excluded if the crud thickness exceeded 300 ㎛.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.55 no.9
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• pp.3164-3182
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• 2023

The CRUD on the fuel cladding under the pressurized water reactor (PWR) operating condition causes several issues. The CRUD can act as thermal resistance and increases the local cladding temperature which accelerate the corrosion process. The hideout of boron inside the CRUD results in axial offset anomaly and reduces the plant's shutdown margin. Recently, there are efforts to revise the acceptance criteria of emergency core cooling systems (ECCS), and additionally require the modeling of the thermal resistance effect of the CRUD during the performance analysis. There is an urgent need for the evaluation of the effect of the CRUD deposition on the cladding heat transfer under PWR operating conditions, but the experimental database is very limited. The experimental facility called DISNY was designed and constructed to analyze the CRUD-related multi-physical phenomena, and the performance analysis of the constructed DISNY facility was conducted. The thermal-hydraulic and water chemistry conditions to simulate the CRUD growth under PWR operating conditions were established. The design characteristics and feasibility of the DISNY facility were validated by the MARS-KS code analysis and separate performance tests. In the current study, detailed design features, design validation results, and future utilization plans of the proposed DISNY facility are presented.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.56-61
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• 2014

The purpose of this work is to investigate the effect of dissolved hydrogen concentration on crud deposition onto the fuel cladding surface in the simulated primary environments of a pressurized water reactor. Crud deposition tests were conducted in the dissolved hydrogen concentration range of 5~70 cc/kg at $325^{\circ}C$ for 14 days. Needle-shaped NiO deposits were formed in the hydrogen range of 5~25 cc/kg, while polygonal nickel ferrite deposits were observed at a hydrogen concentration above 35 cc/kg. However, the dissolved hydrogen content seems to have little effect on the amount of crud deposits.