Impact of chemical decontamination on PWR fuel integrity and performance

A key objective of US Nuclear Industry is to reduce radiation dose in pressurized water reactors and one way of achieving this objective is through chemical decontamination of reactor internals as well as fuel resident in it. This paper summarizes the results of evaluations performed to determine the impact of chemical decontamination on the fuel integrity and subsequent performance under irradiation. The results of the out of reactor materials characterization program performed to obtain information on corrosion impact of chemical decontamination solution on the materials used in PWR fuel are included. In addition, results of a program developed to qualify nuclear fuel to support Fuel-In full reactor system decontamination are described. Results of the qualification program and subsequent evaluation indicated that primary system decontamination with fuel resident in the core during the process will not adversely impact the fuel and its subsequent operation. (author)