SUBMERGED EDDY CURRENT METHOD OF HYDROGEN CONTENT EVALUATION OF ZIRCALOY‐4 FUEL CLADDING

Submerged eddy current testing of zircaloy‐4 fuel cladding has been developed as a method of characterizing the hydrogen evolution within zircaloy‐4 fuel cladding in spent fuel pools. The parameters associated with storage in spent fuel pools must be incorporated and accounted for within the hydrogen content measurements. A focus on the effects of water and temperature must be incorporated and separated out of the hydrogen measurements. The use of submerged eddy current measurements to identify hydrogen content and hydride phases present in zircaloy‐4 fuel cladding will be presented.