R and D advances in high temperature thermocouples for nuclear utilization in severe environment

Safety experiments for water reactors in Cadarache have made necessary a research program for developing special thermocouples for use in severe fuel damage conditions (superheated steam). Standard cladding thermocouples (type K, alumina insulated, zircaloy sheathed, O.D. 0.7 mm) must be replaced by others with W3Re versus W25Re legs, Ta sheath protected by a zircaloy outer sheath, and hafnia or thoria insulation. The zircaloy sheath will be sufficient to protect correctly tantalum. Fuel centerline thermocouples have W5Re versus W26Re or W3Re versus W25Re legs, hard-fired thoria insulation and rhenium CVD sheath (O.D. 1.1 mm). A protective ReSi2 coating is applied. This protection withstands at least 16000C, 45 minutes in steam. Tests are done-concerning: a) materials compatibilities in helium between 14000C and 20000C, b) prototypes qualification (in Saclay or Grenoble), c) determination of errors due to degradation of insulation resistance of thermocouples cables (with magnesia, hafnia, alumina), d) Ir or Re protective coatings by CVD process, other coatings by ionic bombardment, etc... A completely new type of hot junction has been patented. Future works will include: completion of these tests, Mo-Nb alloys thermocouples legs realization withstanding heavy neutronic fluence, and use of ceramics glues