skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Postirradiation examination of capsules GF-1, GF-2, and GF-3. [HTGR]

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6772964· OSTI ID:6772964

The GF-1, GF-2, and GF-3 capsule tests were irradiated in the Siloe reactor at Grenoble, France, between October 31, 1973, and July 25, 1975. High-enriched uranium (HEU) mixed oxide (8Th,U)O/sub 2/ fissile and ThO/sub 2/ fertile particles were tested over the following exposure conditions: 3.8 to 11.0 x 10/sup 25/ n/m/sup 2/ (E > 29 fJ)/sub HTGR/; 960/sup 0/ to 1120/sup 0/C time volume average temperature; and mixed oxide (8Th,U)O/sub 2/ burnup between 5.3 and 11.4% FIMA and ThO/sub 2/ burnup between 1.1 and 3.6% FIMA. Postirradiation examination of HTGR fuel rods in capsules GF-1, GF-2, and GF-3 showed acceptable structural integrity and irradiation-induced dimensional changes that were consistent with model predictions. Pressure vessel failure levels between different TRISO-coated (8Th,U)O/sub 2/ fissile particle types showed that the 400-..mu..m-diameter kernel design was more conservative than the 500-..mu..m-diameter designs.

Research Organization:
General Atomics, San Diego, CA (United States); CEA Centre d'Etudes Nucleaires de Saclay, 91 - Gif-sur-Yvette (France)
DOE Contract Number:
AT03-76ET35300
OSTI ID:
6772964
Report Number(s):
GA-A-15859; TRN: 81-000849
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English