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IRRADIATION BEHAVIOUR OF SOLID AND HOLLOW U$sub 3$Si FUEL ELEMENTS: RESULTS TO 15,000 MWd/tonne U.

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:4767571
U{sub 3}Si fuel elements clad in zirconium alloy sheaths have been irradiated to burnups close to 15,000 MWd/tonne U in pressurized water at 220 degC, 98 bars. The results show that the external swelling can be controlled by incorporating free volume in the element. The dimensional stability of such elements is adequate to permit their use in power reactor fuel bundles. A diameter increase of 1.2% had occurred in an element initially containing 12.8% total free volume, after a burnup of 14,700 MWd/tonne U. There was no change in diameter between burnups of 5200 and 14,700 MWd/tonne. Elements containing 3% total free volume had increased in diameter about 2.5% at 2000 MWd/tonne U compared to 0.2% at 9500 MWd/tonne U for elements containing 22% total free volume. The observed swelling in the U{sub 3}Si is discussed in terms of possible mechanisms.
Research Organization:
Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd., Chalk River (Ontario) Canada. Chalk River Nuclear Labs., Fuel Materials Branch
NSA Number:
NSA-23-047338
OSTI ID:
4767571
Report Number(s):
AECL--3111; EXP-NRX--52233
Country of Publication:
Canada
Language:
English