A phase field study of the thermal migration of gas bubbles in UO2 nuclear fuel under temperature gradient

Wang, Yafeng; Xiao, Zhihua; Hu, Shenyang; Li, Yulan; Shi, San-Qiang

doi:10.1016/j.commatsci.2020.109817

A phase field study of the thermal migration of gas bubbles in UO₂ nuclear fuel under temperature gradient

Journal Article · Fri May 29 00:00:00 EDT 2020 · Computational Materials Science

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.commatsci.2020.109817· OSTI ID:1639154

^[1]; Xiao, Zhihua ^[1]; ^[2]; Li, Yulan ^[2]; Shi, San-Qiang ^[1]

Hong Kong Polytechnic Univ., Shenzhen (China). Shenzhen Research Inst.; Hong Kong Polytechnic Univ., Kowloon (Hong Kong)
Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)

Phase field models are developed to study the gas bubble migration in uranium dioxide nuclear fuel in which a large temperature gradient exists during the operation. In this work, thermal diffusion mechanism for nanosized gas bubbles and vapor transport process for micron-sized gas bubbles are considered, respectively. In both cases, gas bubbles migrate to the high-temperature area. Due to the velocity difference between leading and trailing edges of the gas bubbles, nanosized gas bubbles are elongated along the temperature gradient direction when thermal diffusion is dominated. Micron-sized gas bubbles are either compressed along temperature gradient direction to form lenticular shape bubbles or elongated along temperature gradient direction, depending on the location of the gas bubbles within the fuel pellet. Initial gas bubble radius has no significant effect on the gas bubble migration velocity for both thermal diffusion and vapor transport mechanisms. We notice that the shape change of the gas bubble due to vapor transport mechanism has no significant effect on the migration velocity. Furthermore, the center cavity formation is also captured by our model which is due to the migration and accumulation of lenticular gas bubbles at the center of the fuel pellet. The modeling results compare well with experimental observations and theoretical analysis in the literature.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE; National Natural Science Foundation of China; Research Grants Council of Hong Kong

Grant/Contract Number:: AC05-76RL01830

OSTI ID:: 1639154

Report Number(s):: PNNL-SA--153026

Journal Information:: Computational Materials Science, Journal Name: Computational Materials Science Vol. 183; ISSN 0927-0256

Publisher:: ElsevierCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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A phase field study of the thermal migration of gas bubbles in UO2 nuclear fuel under temperature gradient

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A phase field study of the thermal migration of gas bubbles in UO₂ nuclear fuel under temperature gradient