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Swiss nuclear power and the case for long-term operation
Designed for 40 years but built to last far longer, Switzerland’s nuclear power plants have all entered long-term operation. Yet age alone says little about safety or performance. Through continuous upgrades, strict regulatory oversight, and extensive aging management, the country’s reactors are being prepared for decades of continued operation, in line with international practice.
Rajiv Kohli
Nuclear Technology | Volume 47 | Number 3 | March 1980 | Pages 477-484
Technical Paper | Material | doi.org/10.13182/NT80-A32402
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
The oxidation kinetics of three zirconium alloys (Zr—2.2 wt% Hf, Zr—2.5 wt% Nb, and Zr— 3 wt% Nb—1 wt% Sn) have been measured in flowing carbon dioxide in the temperature range from 873 to 1173 K to 120 ks (2000 min). At all oxidation temperatures, Zr—2.5 Nb and Zr—3 Nb—1 Sn showed a transition to rapid linear kinetics after initial parabolic oxidation. The Zr—2.2Hf showed this transition at temperatures in the range from 973 to 1173 K; at 873 K, no transition was observed within the oxidation times reported. The Zr—2.2 Hf showed the smallest weight gains, followed in order by Zr—2.5Nb and Zr—3 Nb—1 Sn. Increased oxidation rates and shorter times-to-rate-transition of Zr—2.2 Nb and Zr—1 Sn as compared with Zr—2.2 Hf can be attributed to the presence of niobium, tin, and hafnium in the alloys. This is considered in terms of the Nomura-Akutsu model, according to which hafnium should delay the rate transition, while niobium and tin lead to shorter times-to-rate-transition. The scale on Zr—2.2 Hf was identified as monoclinic zirconia, while the tetragonal phase, 6ZrO2·Nb2O5, was contained in the monoclinic zirconia scales on both other alloys.