Prediction of Crud Deposition in a CANDU-SCWR Core Through Corrosion Product Solubility and Transport Modelling

Abstract

Corrosion-product deposition in-core is particularly troublesome for a nuclear reactor because of potentially reduced heat transfer leading to fuel failure and the possibility of activation of the deposits leading to activity transport through the entire system. In this work, the magnitude and location of crud deposits in and around the core of a simplified CANDU-SCWR design are estimated through a corrosion-product solubility and transport model. The model predicts deposition loading to decrease as the coolant goes from saturated in corrosion products to undersaturated. Additionally, it was observed that increasing operational pressure increases core deposits while shifting the location of the initiation of deposition to further up the fuel channel.