Fabrication of Zircaloy-2 Channels for Vallecitos Boiling Water Reactor Fuel Assemblies

A process method and fixtures have been developed for fabricating square shaped zircaloy-2 channels for the fuel assemblies used in the Vallecitos Boiling Water Reactor. Fourteen of these channels were made and assembled on fuel bundles. All of these bundles have been irradiated in the Vallecitos Boiling Water Reactor for various exposures and their suitability for this application has been established. Welds made using this process were as good as those produced in a controlled atmosphere box from the point of view of corrosion resistance and mechanical integrity.