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Advancements in modeling fuel pulverization and cladding behavior during a LOCA

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/1826362· OSTI ID:1826362
 [1];  [1];  [1];  [1];  [1];  [1];  [1];  [2];  [3];  [3]
  1. Idaho National Lab. (INL), Idaho Falls, ID (United States)
  2. Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
  3. Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
+ Show Author Affiliations
During a loss-of-coolant accident (LOCA), it is possible for nuclear fuel rods to undergo a three-step process known as fuel fragmentation, relocation, and dispersal (FFRD). The chance of FFRD occurring increases as the fuel burnup increases. To support the nuclear industry's desire to increase the discharge burnup of nuclear fuels in light-water reactors (LWRs), it is imperative to understand the mechanisms driving the evolution of FFRD. In this work, a multiscale modeling approach is used to garner insight into underlying mechanisms leading to the fine fragmentation (also known as pulverization) of nuclear fuel during a LOCA. This report includes a summary of the atomistic and phase-field studies to develop a new pulverization criterion for use in the engineering-scale Bison fuel performance code. Details are also provided on cladding model improvements related to hydrogen/hydride embrittlement and damage and anisotropic thermal creep. The new models are used on the existing integral and separate effects LOCA validation cases available in Bison.
Research Organization:
Idaho National Laboratory (INL), Idaho Falls, ID (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Nuclear Energy (NE)
DOE Contract Number:
AC07-05ID14517;
OSTI ID:
1826362
Report Number(s):
INL/EXT-21-64705-Rev000
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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Related Subjects

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
BISON
creep
FFRD
fuel fragmentation, relocation, and dispersal
LOCA
loss of coolant accident
pulverization