Understanding the 1600°C fuel temperature limit of TRISO coated fuel particles

Félix Cancino Trejo, Mariana Sáenz Padilla, Eddie López-Honorato

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

4 Scopus citations

Abstract

The TRISO (tristructural isotropic) coated fuel particle is made of a uranium oxide kernel coated with three layers of pyrolytic carbon and one of silicon carbide. This fuel, originally used in High Temperature Reactors, has been proposed as accident tolerant fuel for Light Water Reactors after the accident in Fukushima. Although this fuel is capable of retaining fission products within the particle up to l600°C, little is known on the origin of this temperature limit. Therefore, in order to increase the safety of this type of fuel, it is necessary to understand the origin of the degradation of the materials that compose this fuel. We have studied the effect of temperature on the microstructure and diffusion of silver in pyrolytic carbon coatings produced by fluidized bed chemical vapor deposition. Samples were heat treated at l000°C, l400°C and l700°C for 200 hrs. under inert atmosphere. The effect of temperature on the microstructure and silver diffusion behavior were analyzed by Raman spectroscopy, X-Ray diffraction, optical microscopy, SEM and TEM. We observed that the microstructure of PyC changed drastically above l400°C, showing the increase in anisotropy and the re-orientation of the graphene planes. The diffusion of silver appears to be also correlated with this change in microstructure.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationMaterials for Nuclear Applications
EditorsAngeles del Consuelo Diaz Sanchez, Eddie Lopez Honorato
PublisherMaterials Research Society
Pages61-66
Number of pages6
ISBN (Electronic)9781510826243
DOIs
StatePublished - 2015
Externally publishedYes
Event23rd International Materials Research Congress, IMRC 2014 - Cancun, Mexico
Duration: Aug 17 2014Aug 21 2014

Publication series

NameMaterials Research Society Symposium Proceedings
Volume1769
ISSN (Print)0272-9172

Conference

Conference23rd International Materials Research Congress, IMRC 2014
Country/TerritoryMexico
CityCancun
Period08/17/1408/21/14

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Understanding the 1600°C fuel temperature limit of TRISO coated fuel particles'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this