Effects of the chemical decontamination on the component parts of the ATR fuel assembly

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The chemical decontamination technique has been developed in order to remove the crud adhering to the surface of the components constructing the primary coolant system, as a part of the measure to decrease the exposure in the annual inspection. The technique has been already applied to the prototype reactor "Fugen", in the core of which the fuel assemblies were not loaded. The chemical decontamination, for the core in which the fuel assemblies are loaded, has been planned for the purpose of improving the utilization factor. It is necessary to confirm, through the test before putting the plan into practice, that the decontamination reagent does not exert a bad influence upon the components constructing the fuel assembly. This report describes the test results which have been carried out so as to investigate the influence of the reagent on the components constructing the fuel assembly. The outline of the results is as follows: (1)The susceptibility to stress corrosion cracking of the chemical decontamination treatment and the residual decontamination reagent on the components constructing the fuel assembly is low enough. (2)The chemical decontamination treatment and the residual decontamination reagent do not exert a bad influence upon the integrity of the fuel assembly concerning the fuel rod holding function of the spacer and the characteristics of the fretting wear caused on the fuel claddings.