Methods of preserving a nuclear fuel element
A method of preserving a nuclear fuel includes exposing a surface of a fuel element comprising aluminum to a phosphorus-containing acid and reacting the phosphorus-containing acid with the aluminum to form aluminum phosphate (AlPO 4 ). A nuclear fuel element includes a nuclear fuel and a shell surrounding the nuclear fuel. The shell comprises aluminum phosphate.
1. A method of preserving a nuclear fuel element, the method comprising:
removing corrosion from a surface of a corroded nuclear fuel element; and
after removing the corrosion from the nuclear fuel element, exposing the surface of the nuclear fuel element to a phosphorus-containing acid, the nuclear fuel element comprising a nuclear fuel and a cladding material on the nuclear fuel, one of the nuclear fuel and the cladding material comprising aluminum, exposing the surface of the nuclear fuel element
comprising reacting the phosphorus-containing acid with the aluminum to form aluminum phosphate (AlPO 4 ) on a surface of one or both of the nuclear fuel and the cladding material.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein exposing the surface of the nuclear fuel element to a phosphorus-containing acid comprises exposing the surface of the nuclear fuel element to phosphoric acid.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein exposing the surface of the nuclear fuel element to a phosphorus-containing acid comprises exposing the surface of the nuclear fuel element to hypophosphoric acid.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein exposing the surface of the nuclear fuel element to a phosphorus-containing acid comprises exposing the surface of the nuclear fuel element to phosphorous acid.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein exposing the surface of the nuclear fuel element to a phosphorus-containing acid comprises exposing the surface of the nuclear fuel element to hypophosphorous acid.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein exposing the surface of the nuclear fuel element to a phosphorus-containing acid comprises applying an electrical potential to the surface of the nuclear fuel element while exposing the surface of the nuclear fuel element to the phosphorus-containing acid.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein exposing the surface of the nuclear fuel element comprising aluminum to a phosphorus-containing acid comprises exposing a surface of a cladding material to the phosphorus-containing acid.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein reacting the phosphorus-containing acid with the aluminum comprises sealing at least one hole through the cladding material.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein reacting the phosphorus-containing acid with the aluminum comprises forming a barrier impermeable to oxygen.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein reacting the phosphorus-containing acid with the aluminum comprises forming the aluminum phosphate directly contacting each of the cladding material and the nuclear fuel.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein reacting the phosphorus-containing acid with the aluminum to form aluminum phosphate comprises forming the aluminum phosphate directly contacting elemental aluminum.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein exposing the surface of the nuclear fuel element comprising aluminum to a phosphorus-containing acid comprises exposing a surface of a cladding material comprising least one material selected from the group consisting of aluminum, zirconium, and stainless steel to the phosphorus-containing acid.
13. The method of claim 1 , wherein exposing the surface of the nuclear fuel element comprising aluminum to a phosphorus-containing acid comprises exposing a surface of a cladding material comprising aluminum to the phosphorus-containing acid.
14. The method of claim 1 , wherein exposing the surface of the nuclear fuel element comprising aluminum to a phosphorus-containing acid comprises exposing a surface of a cladding material comprising aluminum oxide to the phosphorus-containing acid.
15. The method of claim 1 , wherein reacting the phosphorus-containing acid with the aluminum to form aluminum phosphate (AlPO 4 ) comprises reacting the phosphorus-containing acid with the aluminum through at least one orifice in a cladding material and forming the aluminum phosphate (AlPO 4 ) in contact with the fuel element.
16. The method of claim 1 , wherein exposing the surface of the nuclear fuel element to a phosphorus-containing acid comprises exposing, to the phosphorus-containing acid, a surface of a nuclear fuel comprising U x Al y , wherein x and y are integers.
17. The method of claim 1 , wherein exposing the surface of the nuclear fuel element to a phosphorus-containing acid comprises exposing a surface of a nuclear fuel element comprising spent nuclear fuel to the phosphorus-containing acid.