In-reactor measurement of fuel element cladding temperatures

TL;DRAbstract

A design was developed for leading thermocouples from a high-temperature, pressurized water reactor-coolant system of such integrity that no reactor shutdowns were caused by its use. Using this design, measurements of the fuel-element-cladding temperature and its variation with time were made in three tests on elements clad in type X-8001 aluminum alloy. The following conclusions were reached from the test results: (1) the cladding temperature of a fuel element operated at low heat flux in high bulk-outlet temperature water did not increase with time and was slightly lower than predicted by the Sieder-Tate equation; (2) cladding temperatures of fuel elements operated at high heat flux in either high bulk-inlet or outlet temperature water increased 40 C higher than predicted by the Sieder-Tate equation with initial temperatures equal to the predicted temperatures; and (3) the rate of temperature increase appeared dependent only on fuel-element heat flux and location with respect to the

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