Performance of U-Pu-Zr fuel cast into zirconium molds
- Argonne National Lab., Idaho Falls, ID (United States)
- Argonne National Lab., IL (United States)
U-3Zr and U-20.5Pu-3Zr were injection cast into Zr tubes, or sheaths, rather than into quartz molds and clad in 316SS. These elements and standard-cast U-l0Zr and U-IgPu-l0Zr elements were irradiated in EBR-II to 2 at.% and removed for interim examination. Measurements of axial growth at indicate that the Zr-sheathed elements exhibited significantly less axial elongation than the standard-cast elements (1.3 to 1.8% versus 4.9 to 8.1%). Fuel material extruded through the ends of the Zr sheaths. allowing the low-Zr fuel to contact the cladding in some cases. Transverse metallographic sections reveal cracks in the Zr sheath through which fuel extruded and contacted cladding. The sheath is not a sufficient barrier between fuel and cladding to reduce FCCI. and any adverse effects due to increased FCCI will be evident as the elements attain higher burnup.
- Research Organization:
- Argonne National Lab., Idaho Falls, ID (United States); Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-31109-ENG-38
- OSTI ID:
- 10113914
- Report Number(s):
- ANL/FE/CP-76392; CONF-921102-44; ON: DE93004239
- Resource Relation:
- Journal Volume: 204; Conference: Joint American Nuclear Society/European Nuclear Society (ANS/ENS) international meeting on fifty years of controlled nuclear chain reaction: past, present, and future,Chicago, IL (United States),15-20 Nov 1992; Other Information: PBD: Oct 1992
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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