Year
1985
Abstract
The fuel assembly seal demonstration experiment performed at the Kahl Experimental Power Station (Versuchsatomkraftwerk Kahl, VAK) is a task within the IAEA support program of the Federal Republic of Germany which serves to fit and test seal systems in LWR fuel assemblies in order to contribute to the development of such systems and to collect experience with their application under normal operating conditions. The experiment is characterized by the joint efforts of reactor operators and licensing authorities, the contribution of various fuel assembly manufacturers, and the cooperation in the field of practical operations of the JRC Euratom, Ispra, and the Sandia National Laboratories, which developed the two ultrasonic sealing systems tested and performed a major part of the test proper. Starting at VAK in 1980, that task was first undertaken for BWR fuel assemblies. The clarification of criteria to be met by a sealing system was one of the first main objectives. The licenses were obtained from the responsible Federal State Ministry. Qualification tests performe'd prior to the experiment indicated the reliable reidentification capability of the sealing systems. In the demonstration experiment seal applications, seal identifications and integrity checks were demonstrated successfully, including all relevant handling procedures. Inspections confirmed proper attachmet of all seals to the fuel assemblies until Oct. 1984.