Abstract
Several different U based metallic nuclear fuel alloys and forms were irradiated as part of the Advanced Fuels Campaign (AFC) series of irradiation experiments. Results from postirradiation examinations of the AFC-3A and AFC-3B are presented here. In this irradiation, U alloyed with Mo, Zr, and Zr with Pd were investigated. Different geometric forms (solid, annular), smear densities and bonding media (sodium, helium) were also irradiated and evaluated. All fuel forms were irradiated in ferritic-martensitic HT-9 cladding. Examination of the irradiated fuel included neutron radiography, evaluation of the distribution of gamma-ray emitting radionuclides, dimensional inspection, fission gas release analysis, optical microscopy, and chemical analysis. No in-pile failure was observed with this fuel. Neutron radiography, gamma spectrometry, and dimensional inspections indicated the fuel largely performed acceptably. Optical microscopy revealed significant fuel-cladding interaction between the Mo based alloys and the cladding. The Zr based alloys generally performed better although some forms revealed behaviors that present specific fabrication challenges such as tighter fabrication tolerances that will need to be better controlled to match historical U-Zr fuel performance. The addition of Pd as an additive to prevent fuel cladding chemical interaction (FCCI) also appears to present some challenges to fuel performance.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 377-391 |
Number of pages | 15 |
Journal | Journal of Nuclear Materials |
Volume | 509 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Oct 2018 |
Externally published | Yes |
Funding
This work was supported by the U.S. Department of Energy , Advanced Fuels Campaign of the Nuclear Technology Research and Development program in the Office of Nuclear Energy .
Funders | Funder number |
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U.S. Department of Energy | |
Office of Nuclear Energy |
Keywords
- Additive
- FCCI
- Metallic fast reactor fuel
- Ultra-high burnup