Title: Crushing strength of HTGR fuel particles

Abstract

The whole-particle crushing strengths of High-Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactor fertile and fissile coated particles were measured and correlated with fabrication procedures. The crushing strength of Biso-coated fertile particles was increased by the following factors: (1) increasing the outer coating thickness by 10 $mu$m increased strengths by 0.3 lb (1.3 N) for annealed particles and by 0.5 lb (2.2 N) for unannealed particles. (2) An 1800$sup 0$C postcoating anneal increased strengths by 1 lb (4.4 N) for particles with thick outer coatings and by 2 lb (8.9 N) for particles having thin coatings. (3) Increasing the inner coating density by 0.1 g/cm$sup 3$ increased strength by 0.6 lb (2.7 N). The crushing strength of Triso-coated fissile particles was proportional to the thickness of the SiC coatings, and strength decreased on annealing by about 0.2 lb (0.9 N) when a porous plate was used to distribute the coating gas and by about 1.5 lb (6.7 N) when a conical gas distributor was used. The strengths of fertile and fissile coated particles as well as uncoated kernels appear adequate to allow fuel fabrication without excessive particle damage. (auth)

Authors:

Lackey, W. J.; Stinton, D. P.; Davis, L. E.; Beatty, R. L.

Publication Date:

Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1976

Research Org.:

Oak Ridge National Lab., Tenn. (USA)

OSTI Identifier:

4081897

Report Number(s):

ORNL-TM-5132

NSA Number:

NSA-33-016268

DOE Contract Number:

W-7405-ENG-26

Resource Type:

Technical Report

Resource Relation:

Other Information: Orig. Receipt Date: 30-JUN-76

Country of Publication:

United States

Language:

English

Subject:

N77300* -Reactors-Power Reactors, Non-breeding, Graphite Moderated; 210300* -Nuclear Power Plants-Power Reactors, Non- Breeding, Graphite Moderated; *COATED FUEL PARTICLES- MECHANICAL PROPERTIES; *HTGR TYPE REACTORS- COATED FUEL PARTICLES; COATINGS; FABRICATION; FRACTURE PROPERTIES