Some Engineering Aspects in the Development of Pressure Tubes for CANO U

Abstract

One of the main engineering characteristics of the CANDU nuclear power reactor is the use of pressure tubes rather than one large pressure vessel to contain the fuel and coo1ant. The power reactor basically consists of a calandria, which is a vessel containing the low pressure heavy water moderator, end shields, and an array of identical pressure tube assemblies which project through the end shields and calandria The pressure tube is thus the pressure


vessel in a CANDU reactor. This paper reviews some of the engineering aspects of the development of the pressure tube. Significant advances hove been achieved related to zirconium alloys, tube fabrication, flux enhanced creep, irradiation growth, delayed hydride cracking, inspection and retubing.