Effect of lithium hydroxide on zircaloy corrosion in the Ringhals-3 PWR plant

Zircaloy oxide thicknesses were predicted for several fuel rods irradiated in Ringhals 3 over cycles 1b-4. During most of this period the fuel cladding was exposed to a high pH primary coolant chemistry regime in which lithium was present up to a concentration of 3.5 ppm. Comparison of prediction with measurement showed that the presence of lithium had produced no enhancement in oxidation within the limits of experimental and computational error.