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REVIEW OF THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY AND HEAT TRANSFER IN URANIUM DIOXIDE

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/4245281· OSTI ID:4245281
Methods of increasing the thermal conductivity of UO/sub 2/ are considered. It is suggested that the thermal conductivity of UO/sub 2/ might be increased by treating it as a potential oxidic semiconductor and doping it with the proper elements. Study of the literature shows that thermal conduction by intrinsic carriers has been treated experimentally and theoretically but that the conductivities so found do not follow the WiedemannFranz law. Conduction by extrinsic carriers, as in a doped oxide, has not been treated theoretically. Recent measurements indicate that doping UO/sub 2/ with Y/sup 3+/ or Nb/sup 5+/ increases its thermal conductivity; but the data are sparse, and the magnitude of the increase and its dependence upon impurity concentration and temperature have not been determined. Suggested experiments to test the effects of impurity addition on the thermal conductivity are described. (auth)
Research Organization:
Oak Ridge National Lab., Tenn.
DOE Contract Number:
W-7405-ENG-26
NSA Number:
NSA-13-011870
OSTI ID:
4245281
Report Number(s):
ORNL-2656
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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