Fully Ceramic Microencapsulated Fuel Development for LWR Applications

Conference · Sun Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 2012

OSTI ID:1051445

Snead, Lance Lewis ^[1]; Besmann, Theodore M ^[1]; Terrani, Kurt A ^[1]; Voit, Stewart L ^[1]

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1. ORNL

The concept, fabrication, and key feasibility issues of a new fuel form based on the microencapsulated (TRISO-type) fuel which has been specifically engineered for LWR application and compacted within a SiC matrix will be presented. This fuel, the so-called fully ceramic microencapsulated fuel is currently undergoing development as an accident tolerant fuel for potential UO2 replacement in commercial LWRs. While the ability of this fuel to facilitate normal LWR cycle performance is an ongoing effort within the program, this will not be a focus of this paper. Rather, key feasibility and performance aspects of the fuel will be presented including the ability to fabricate a LWR-specific TRISO, the need for and route to a high thermal conductivity and fully dense matrix that contains neutron poisons, and the performance of that matrix under irradiation and the interaction of the fuel with commercial zircaloy clad.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL); High Flux Isotope Reactor; Shared Research Equipment Collaborative Research Center
• Sponsoring Organization: NE USDOE - Office of Nuclear Energy
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-00OR22725
• OSTI ID: 1051445
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English