FUEL ELEMENTS FOR U.K. GAS-COOLED REACTORS

Journal Article · Mon Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1962 · Met. Soc., Am. Inst. Mining, Met. Petrol. Engrs., Inst. Metals Div., Spec. Rept. Ser.

OSTI ID:4682352

Greenough, G B; Murray, P

Features of the behavior of fuel elements relevant to the current U.K. Gas Cooled Reactor Program are discussed. In the case of uranium-magnox fuel elements, attention is drawn to the importance of the mechanical properties of the magnesium alloys, such as the effect of grain size on ductility, creep strength in the fuel element supports, and the relevance of fatigue properties to reactor power changes. Data are also presented showing the effect of small amounts of iron and aluminum on the irradiation growth and irradiation swelling behavior of beta quenched uranium metal. The main features influencing the selection of UO/sub 2/ as the fuel and 20 Cr/25 Ni/1 Nb as the canning alloy for the Windscale Advanced Gas Cooled Reactor are also noted. The importance of obtaining minimal fission gas release from the fuel is emphasized for the gas cooled case and irradiation data presented up to 10,000 Mwd/t. Preliminary results on higher burn-up UO/sub 2/-stainless steel fuel elements up to 50,000 Mwd/t are also discussed in this context. Interaction effects between the UO/sub 2/ pellets and the stainless steel cans leading to ratchetting are also discussed. For high temperature reactors, dispersions of carbide in graphite and of UO/sub 2/ in BeO are the relevant fuels and the major problem in these systems is the development of fuels and fuel elements which retain fission gases and fission products at high temperatures. The current research and development work, including irradiation behavior, being carried out in these systems, ms described. (auth)

• Research Organization: United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority, Springfield Works, Eng.
• NSA Number: NSA-17-030927
• OSTI ID: 4682352
• Journal Information: Met. Soc., Am. Inst. Mining, Met. Petrol. Engrs., Inst. Metals Div., Spec. Rept. Ser., Journal Name: Met. Soc., Am. Inst. Mining, Met. Petrol. Engrs., Inst. Metals Div., Spec. Rept. Ser. Vol. Vol: No. 11
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: English

Related Subjects

AGR
ALLOTROPY
ALUMINUM
BERYLLIUM OXIDES
BURNUP
CHROMIUM ALLOYS
CREEP
DISPERSIONS
DUCTILITY
EXPANSION
FATIGUE
FISSION PRODUCTS
FUEL CANS
FUEL ELEMENTS
GAS COOLANT
GRAIN SIZE
GRAPHITE
HIGH TEMPERATURE
IMPURITIES
IRON
IRRADIATION
MAGNESIUM ALLOYS
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
METALS, CERAMICS, AND OTHER MATERIALS
NICKEL ALLOYS
NIOBIUM ALLOYS
PELLETS
POWER
REACTORS
STAINLESS STEELS
URANIUM
URANIUM ALLOYS
URANIUM CARBIDES
URANIUM DIOXIDE
URANIUM-BETA
VARIATIONS