EFFECTS OF HIGH BURNUP ON ZIRCALOY-CLAD BULK UO$sub 2$, PLATE FUEL ELEMENT SAMPLES

Technical Report · Sat Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1962

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/4747035· OSTI ID:4747035

Daniel, R C; Bleiberg, M L; Meieran, H B; Yeniscavich, W

The results of irradiation testing of Zircaloy-clad, UO/sub 2/ plate fuel element samples demonstrated the applicability of this configuration to extended in-pile service and have shown that the factors most important in limiting the useful in-pile life of bulk UO/sub 2/ plate-type elements are in- pile operating temperature, fuel restraint, and fuel density. It was shown that the amount of fission gas released from the UO2 is increased when the fuel is subjected to excessive operating temperatures and high exposure. Microstructural changes in bulk UO/sub 2/, consisting primarily of the precipitation of both nonvolatile and volatile fission products, were noted at high exposure and high temperature, but no change in the UO/sub 2/ crystal lattice was observed. The excellent outof-pile corrosion resistance of Zircaloy cladding was conflrmed in in-pile loop tests of these samples, although, under abnormal conditions involving intentional clad defects, high coolant activity can result from corrosion of the UO/sub 2/ fuel, and accelerated corrosion of the cladding can occur. (auth)

• Research Organization: Westinghouse Electric Corp. Bettis Atomic Power Lab., Pittsburgh, PA (USA)
• Sponsoring Organization: US Atomic Energy Commission (AEC); Bettis Atomic Power Laboratory, Pittsburgh, PA
• DOE Contract Number: AT(11-1)-GEN-14
• NSA Number: NSA-16-033524
• OSTI ID: 4747035
• Report Number(s): WAPD-263
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

BURNUP
COOLANTS
CORROSION
CRYSTALS
DEFECTS
DEFORMATION
DENSITY
FISSION PRODUCTS
FUEL CANS
FUEL ELEMENTS
GASES
IN PILE LOOPS
IRRADIATION
LATTICES
LEAKS
MATERIALS TESTING
METALS, CERAMICS, AND OTHER MATERIALS
PERFORMANCE
PLATES
PRECIPITATION
RADIATION DOSES
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIOACTIVITY
TEMPERATURE
URANIUM DIOXIDE
ZIRCALOY