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U.S. Department of Energy
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Fuel development activities of the US RERTR Program. [Reduced Enrichment Research and Test Reactor]

Conference ·
OSTI ID:5532823
Progress in the development and irradiation testing of high-density fuels for use with low-enriched uranium in research and test reactors is reported. Swelling and blister-threshold temperature data obtained from the examination of miniature fuel plates containing UAl/sub x/, U/sub 3/O/sub 8/, U/sub 3/Si/sub 2/, or U/sub 3/Si dispersed in an aluminum matrix are presented. Combined with the results of metallurgical examinations, these data show that these four fuel types will perform adequately to full burnup of the /sup 235/U contained in the low-enriched fuel. The exothermic reaction of the uranium-silicide fuels with aluminum has been found to occur at about the same temperature as the melting of the aluminum matrix and cladding and to be essentially quenched by the melting endotherm. A new series of miniature fuel plate irradiations is also discussed.
Research Organization:
Argonne National Lab., IL (USA); Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
W-31109-ENG-38
OSTI ID:
5532823
Report Number(s):
CONF-8310176-6; ON: DE84003620
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English