Insights on Fuel Sheath Deposit Formation During Primary Heat Transport Hot Conditioning

Pressurized Heavy Water Reactor (PHWR), CANadian Deuterium-Uranium (CANDU), Operating Experience (OPEX) provides evidence that performing post-refurbishment Primary Heat Transport System (PHTS) Hot Conditioning (HC) with fuel in core presents a risk that the fuel bundles may become coated with iron-based, primarily magnetite and hematite, deposits during the evolution. This OPEX also provide evidence that these deposits remain on the fuel sheath for a period of approximately three to six months into the subsequent operation of the plant before the deposit material is redistributed into the PHTS coolant and removed from the system through the PHTS purification system. Such deposits, while present on the sheath, are thought to contribute to fuel sheath corrosion and impact fuel element heat transfer properties. OPG commissioned a series of laboratory testing to investigate the factors that contribute to the phenomena of fuel sheath deposit formation. These tests included comparative studies of HC evolutions, which emulated recent CANDU post-refurbishment OPEX in a laboratory setting. These investigations provided clarity on the parameters relevant to this adverse condition and on controls that can be implemented to minimize deposition on fuel bundle sheath surfaces. Sensitive parameters and associated controls include; (1) use of a "conventional" HC process as compared to a chelating-agent type HC, that use forms of Ethylenediaminetetraacetic Acid (e.g. Li2EDTA), (2) HC prior to reactor first approach-to-critical (i.e. no fuel heat), (3) maintenance of PHTS pH per current industry expert recommendations, and (4) careful control of other dissolved materials in the PHTS during PHT cold flush. OPEX observations suggest that the surface condition of fuel sheathing may also be a contributing factor related to the probability of deposition. This indicates that fuel sheaths that have been "polished" following tube production may be less susceptible to deposition of magnetite on sheath surfaces during HC. While OPG has considered this observation to be interesting, it was not further investigated, and thus requires validation. (author)