An analysis of prompt fission gas release from a cladding breach
An analytical model was developed to study the prompt escape of gaseous and volatile fission products present in the fuel-cladding gap of a light water reactor fuel rod following a cladding breach. Key questions include how fast fission gas is released and what mass fraction of the gap gas remains in the failed rod. Analysis shows that only a small mass fraction ( about0.17) of the total gas inventory initially present in the fuel-cladding gap escapes promptly following cladding rupture, regardless of the size of the rupture, when the rod is surrounded by liquid coolant at high pressure ( about6 to 15 MPa). However, during a loss-of-coolant type of accident, where the fuel rod is surrounded mainly by low pressure steam ( about0.1 MPa), a large mass fraction ( about0.95) of the gap gas is found to escape the rod shortly after cladding rupture due to the greater ratio of the initial rod pressure to the coolant pressure.
- Research Organization:
- University of New Mexico, Department of Chemical and Nuclear Engineering, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131
- OSTI ID:
- 5691461
- Journal Information:
- Nucl. Technol.; (United States), Vol. 60:2
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
FUEL RODS
FISSION PRODUCT RELEASE
RUPTURES
FUEL-CLADDING INTERACTIONS
COOLANTS
GASES
HIGH PRESSURE
LOSS OF COOLANT
REACTOR ACCIDENTS
SIMULATION
STEAM
ACCIDENTS
FAILURES
FLUIDS
FUEL ELEMENTS
REACTOR COMPONENTS
220900* - Nuclear Reactor Technology- Reactor Safety
220100 - Nuclear Reactor Technology- Theory & Calculation