PBF OPTRAN experiment results

Conference · Sat Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1983

OSTI ID:5405627

Ploger, S A

No evidence of PCI-induced fuel rod damage was found after four successive, conservatively severe OPTRAN 1-1 transients. With the qualification that only six, 1-m long rods were tested during OPTRAN 1-1, it now seems that commercial rod failure probabilities would be quite small during a BWR turbine trip without bypass, load rejection without bypass, and other promptly scrammed operational transients. It also appears that standard BWR fuel would tend to resist failure during a severe ATWS. Only one small, incipient PCI crack was detected within the two OPTRAN 1-2 test rods, and oxygen embrittlement from elevated cladding temperatures was insignificant. However, the OPTRAN 1-2 rods did experience cladding phase transformations and large fission gas releases as a consequence of reduced heat transfer to the coolant. This suggests BWR fuel downrating or reloading would be warranted following any commercial ATWS event wherein boiling transitions were induced.

• Research Organization: EG and G Idaho, Inc., Idaho Falls (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC07-76ID01570
• OSTI ID: 5405627
• Report Number(s): EGG-M-21183; CONF-8310143-35; ON: DE84002213
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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