A CALPHAD-informed approach to modeling constituent redistribution in Zr-based metallic fuels using BISON

Hirschhorn, Jacob; Tonks, Michael; Matthews, Christopher

doi:10.1016/j.jnucmat.2020.152657

A CALPHAD-informed approach to modeling constituent redistribution in Zr-based metallic fuels using BISON

Journal Article · Mon Nov 09 00:00:00 EST 2020 · Journal of Nuclear Materials

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnucmat.2020.152657· OSTI ID:1716817

Hirschhorn, Jacob ^[1]; ^[1]; ^[2]

Univ. of Florida, Gainesville, FL (United States)
Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)

Here, a CALPHAD-informed (Computer Coupling of Phase Diagrams and Thermochemistry) constituent redistribution model was developed for Zr-based metallic fuels and incorporated into the BISON fuel performance code. Three uncertain model parameters associated with β and γ phase kinetics were calibrated using integral test data from U-Zr fuel elements irradiated in Experimental Breeder Reactor II. The calibrated constituent redistribution model was shown to predict the behavior of U-Zr fuels with excellent accuracy. Model predictions for U-Pu-Zr fuels were physically reasonable but less accurate. Reduction of uncertainties in the ternary phase transition temperatures and collection of kinetic data for the ζ phase are expected to improve the model’s ternary predictions. Finally, the new model was coupled to existing thermomechanics models in BISON to simulate irradiation of an entire U-Zr fuel element, demonstrating its ability to accurately predict the behavior of U-Zr fuels with realistic geometries and mesh resolutions at the engineering scale.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: Idaho National Laboratory (INL), Idaho Falls, ID (United States); Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE; USDOE Office of Nuclear Energy (NE)

Grant/Contract Number:: 89233218CNA000001; AC07-05ID14517

OSTI ID:: 1716817

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 1776040

Report Number(s):: LA-UR--20-23573

Journal Information:: Journal of Nuclear Materials, Journal Name: Journal of Nuclear Materials Vol. 544; ISSN 0022-3115

Publisher:: ElsevierCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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A CALPHAD-informed approach to modeling constituent redistribution in Zr-based metallic fuels using BISON

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