Systematic technology evaluation program for SiC/SiC composite-based accident-tolerant LWR fuel cladding and core structures: Revision 2015

Technical Report · Sat Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 2015

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/1215606· OSTI ID:1215606

Katoh, Yutai ^[1]; Terrani, Kurt A. ^[1]

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1. Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)

Fuels and core structures in current light water reactors (LWR’s) are vulnerable to catastrophic failure in severe accidents as unfortunately evidenced by the March 2011 Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant Accident. This vulnerability is attributed primarily to the rapid oxidation kinetics of zirconium alloys in a water vapor environment at very high temperatures. Zr alloys are the primary material in LWR cores except for the fuel itself. Therefore, alternative materials with reduced oxidation kinetics as compared to zirconium alloys are sought to enable enhanced accident-tolerant fuels and cores.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Nuclear Energy (NE)
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-00OR22725
• OSTI ID: 1215606
• Report Number(s): ORNL/TM-2015/454; AF5810000; NEAF278
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English