Evaluation of the creep deformation properties for the HANA alloy

For the pathfinder rod insertion in the commercial reactor of HANA claddings which have been developed through advanced zirconium alloy nuclear fuel cladding development program in KAERI, it is necessary to evaluate the in-pile performance in the Halden test reactor and to set up licensing strategy. The out-of-pile test items for cladding tubes were determined for using in the commercial reactor and the test results collected during the HANA cladding development program have been validated. Also, the operation conditions of Halden test reactor and commercial reactors have been analyzed and irradiation performance data of HANA cladding in the Halden reactor have been evaluated. Based on the out-of and in-pile data, the requirements for the pathfinder rod insertion in the commercial reactor were set up and the safety analysis was performed. The established licensing strategy, pathfinder rod program and performance data evaluation technology can be applied as a basis for coming cladding development program. And the performance analysis and safety analysis results will be used for pathfinder rod licensing of HANA cladding tubes in the commercial reactors