The parameters influencing secondary hydrogen uptake can be divided into two groups: material properties and process parameters. The first group includes for instance the steam oxidation kinetics, the oxide morphology and the hydrogen diffusion through the oxide layer. The second group covers for instance the temperature, the total pressure, the gas flow type and rates, the cladding area and the filling of the rods. Together with a theoretical view on the influence of different parameters on the hydrogen uptake of zirconium alloys experimental results from separate-effect tests, large-scale QUENCH tests and in-situ neutron radiography investigations of the hydrogen uptake during steam oxidation will be presented. The hydrogen concentrations in specimens made from commonly used cladding materials were determined by quantitative analysis of neutron radiographs. Information obtained from ex- and in-situ steam oxidation experiments will be given. The presentation of the experimental results will be focused on the influence of oxidation time and temperature, of the oxide layer morphology, the sample geometry and of the gas flow rates on the hydrogen concentration of the remaining metal phases. Differences between Zr-Sn, Zr-Nb and Zr-Sn-Nb alloys will be discussed.
In Situ Neutron Radiography Investigations of Hydrogen Related Processes in Zirconium Alloys