LONG TERM IRRADIATION OF SAP-CLAD, UO$sub 2$ FUELLED, TREFOIL BUNDLES IN THE X-7 ORGANIC COOLED LOOP
Technical Report
·
OSTI ID:4690564
An irradiation of experimental fuel bundles of UO/sub 2/ clad in Sintered Aluminium Product (SAP) sheaths was performed in the X-7 loop in the NRX Reactor from August to November 1961. The twofold objective of this irradiation was to gain confidence in the use of such a fuel in an orgaic coolant and to assess the fouling problem associated with a coolant which was as 'clean' as the existing technology could produce. The trefoil bundles successfully underwent an irradiation of 2400 Mwd/tU (max.). The maximum sheath temperature was 460 deg C in a coolant temperature of about 310 deg C. Surface heat fluxes were roughly 100 w/cm/sup 2/. After irradiation, a film of about 80 mu m thickness was found covering the sheath over fuelled sections. The film was by weight 40% polymerized organic and 60% Fe/sub 4/O/sub 4/. The net effect of the film was to increase the pressure drop across the fuel by 50% and increase the sheath temperature by 60 deg C. The SAP sheath showed no effects of irradiation except for small apparent increases in diameter at two out of eighteen planes measured. The appearance of the UO/sub 2/ was similar to that of UO/sub 2/ irradiated in pressurized water loops at similar heat ratings. The stability of the fuel and the thinness of the fouling layer were encouraging indications that a successful fuel and coolant for an organic cooled reactor could be developed. (auth)
- Research Organization:
- Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd., Chalk River, Ontario (Canada)
- NSA Number:
- NSA-17-041493
- OSTI ID:
- 4690564
- Report Number(s):
- EXP-NRX-70911; AECL-1782
- Country of Publication:
- Canada
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
ALUMINUM
FILMS
FUEL ELEMENTS
HEATING
IN PILE LOOPS
IRON OXIDES
IRRADIATION
LAYERS
METALS, CERAMICS, AND OTHER MATERIALS
NRX
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC COOLANT
POLYMERIZATION
PRESSURE
RADIATION DOSES
RADIATION EFFECTS
SINTERED MATERIALS
STABILITY
SURFACES
TEMPERATURE
THICKNESS
URANIUM DIOXIDE
WATER COOLANT
FILMS
FUEL ELEMENTS
HEATING
IN PILE LOOPS
IRON OXIDES
IRRADIATION
LAYERS
METALS, CERAMICS, AND OTHER MATERIALS
NRX
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC COOLANT
POLYMERIZATION
PRESSURE
RADIATION DOSES
RADIATION EFFECTS
SINTERED MATERIALS
STABILITY
SURFACES
TEMPERATURE
THICKNESS
URANIUM DIOXIDE
WATER COOLANT