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U.S. Department of Energy
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THE FIRST EXPERIMENTAL IRRADIATION OF FOG-COOLED FUEL

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:4037948
The first experimental irradiation of nuclear reactor fuel with fog cooling is described. Tests done during the irradiation to determine the dryout heat flux'' (critical heat flux for high quality boiling) at various flow conditions are also outlined. The results of this irradiation are compared with results from out-of-reactor experiments. The irradiation was undertaken in a fuel irradiation facility called the X-4 loop, which is cooled by a high pressure steam/water mixture. The fog coolant in this loop is generated by spraying slightly sub-cooled water into steam with a small degree of superheat at the same pressure. The fuel assembly contained two 15 mm diameter fuel elements, one sheathed in Zircaloy-2, the other sheathed in stainless steel to permit the attachment of sheath thermocouples. The irradiation was run for 17 days under conditions approximating those anticipated in a fog cooled power reactor. During most of this period, an outlet quality of approximately 31 wt% steam was used with a mass velocity of 100 g/cm/sup 2/ sec at a pressure of 70 kg/cm/sup 2/. Dryout tests were done at mass velocities from 107 to 117 g/cm/sup 2/ sec with outiet qualities ranging from 37 to 40 wt% steam, and heat fluxes up to 108 w/cm/ sup 2/ Dryout was detected by sheath thermocouples on the stainless steel clad element. The results of these tests are in good agreement with a model based on a series of out-ofreactor tests. (auth)
Research Organization:
Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd., Ottawa
NSA Number:
NSA-18-018412
OSTI ID:
4037948
Report Number(s):
CRFD-1164; Exp-NRX-42106; CONF
Country of Publication:
Country unknown/Code not available
Language:
English