CHEMISTRY OF THE FIRST UO$sub 2$ FUEL FAILURE IN THE X-2-s TEST
During a UO/sub 2/ fuel test in the X-2 loop in the NRX: reactor a defect occurred in one of the fuel specimens. The test was continued for an additional 14 days before high activity in the loop water brought it to an end. From monitor behavior and radiochemical data it was postulated that the defect in the sheath began as a very small hole which gradually enlarged due to corrosion until it reached 0.25 inches diameter. Escape-rate coefficients calculated for Kr/sup 88/, Cs/sup 138/ and three iodine isotopes for the period when the defect hole was small indicated the release of activity to be similar to that observed in the X-2-q defect test. This was not unexpected since the defected specimens were similar in heat rating and density. Examination of the gamma activity in loop water samples with a scintillation crystal and pulse-height analyzer showed that the major activities present after at least 46 minutes were the fission- product gases, their daughters and the iodines. It was not possible to determine the amount of UO/sub 2/ lost from the failed element but a minimum figure of 6.6 mg was estimated as added to the loop test section by the fuel failure. (auth)
- Research Organization:
- Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd., Chalk River, Ont.
- NSA Number:
- NSA-14-018798
- OSTI ID:
- 4181777
- Report Number(s):
- EXP-NRX-2805; AECL-1012
- Country of Publication:
- Canada
- Language:
- English
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