Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Power Burst Facility thermocouple effects test results report: Test Series TC-1, TC-3, and TC-4

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:5337495

Fuel rod cladding surface temperatures have been estimated in Loss-of-Fluid Test (LOFT) Facility and in Power Burst Facility loss-of-coolant accident (LOCA) tests using data obtained with thermocouples welded to the cladding outer surface. These cladding temperature estimates have been questioned because cladding surface thermocouples may act as cooling fins and local sites of cladding rewet, thereby delaying the time of occurrence of critical heat flux (CHF) and providing increased surface heat transfer. This report presents the results of three series of light water reactor fuel behavior tests (Thermocouple Effects Test Series TC-1, TC-3, and TC-4) that were performed in the Power Burst Facility to specifically evaluate the influence of cladding surface thermocouples on the thermal behavior of nuclear fuel rods under LOCA conditions. Twelve tests were performed in the three test series. Differences between tests included variations in system thermal-hydraulic conditions and in the initial test rod power level, as well as differences in design of the internal cladding thermocouples.

Research Organization:
EG and G Idaho, Inc., Idaho Falls (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
AC07-76ID01570
OSTI ID:
5337495
Report Number(s):
NUREG/CR-2665; EGG-2190; ON: DE82018832
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English