Irradiation experiment on ZrC-coated fuel particles for high-temperature gas-cooled reactors

Journal Article · Thu Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 2000 · Nuclear Technology

OSTI ID:20067741

Minato, Kazuo; Ogawa, Toru; Sawa, Kazuhiro; Ishikawa, Akiyoshi; Tomita, Takeshi; Iida, Shozo; Sekino, Hajime

The ZrC coating layer is a candidate to replace the SiC coating layer of the Triso-coated fuel particle. To compare the irradiation performance of the ZrC Triso-coated fuel particles with that of the normal Triso-coated fuel particles at high temperatures, a capsule irradiation experiment was performed, where both types of the coated fuel particles were irradiated under identical conditions. The burnup was 4.5% FIMA and the irradiation temperature was 1,400 to 1,650 C. The postirradiation measurement of the through-coating failure fractions of both types of coated fuel particles revealed better irradiation performance of the ZrC Triso-coated fuel particles. The optical microscopy and electron probe microanalysis on the polished cross section of the ZrC Triso-coated fuel particles revealed no interaction of palladium with the ZrC coating layer nor accumulation of palladium at the inner surface of the ZrC coating layer, whereas severe corrosion of the SiC coating layer was observed in the normal Triso-coated fuel particles. Although no corrosion of the ZrC coating layer was observed, additional evaluations need to be made of this layer's ability to satisfactorily retain the fission product palladium.

• Research Organization: Japan Atomic Energy Research Inst., Ibaraki (JP)
• OSTI ID: 20067741
• Journal Information: Nuclear Technology, Journal Name: Nuclear Technology Journal Issue: 3 Vol. 130; ISSN 0029-5450; ISSN NUTYBB
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
BURNUP
COATED FUEL PARTICLES
HTGR TYPE REACTORS
MATERIAL SUBSTITUTION
PHYSICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
POST-IRRADIATION EXAMINATION
ZIRCONIUM CARBIDES