SiC-fission product reactions in HTGR TRISO UC/sub 2/ and UC/sub x/O/sub y/ fissile fuel: I, kinetics of reactions in a thermal gradient

Conference · Thu Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1979 · J. Am. Ceram. Soc.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5648942

Smith, C L

The potential for SiC-lanthanide fission product reactions on the cool side of TRISO-coated UC/sub 2/ and UC/sub 4/ /sub 3/O/sub 1/ fuel particles was studied in postirradiation thermal-gradient heating experiments. The kinetics of the reactions were obtained by determining the rate of decrease in SiC thickness as a function of temperature and fission density. Reaction rates are independent of the fission density for UC/sub 2/ kernel burnups >5% FIMA. The rate of change in SiC thickness for TRISO, UC/sub 2/ in a temperature gradient is X (..mu..m/h) = 4.2 x 10/sup 7/ exp(-3.283 x 10/sup 5//8.313T). No reduction in O/sub 1/ /sub 3/SiC thickness was observed in TRISO UC/sub 4/ /sub 3/ fuel; the rates of SiC fission product reactions are at least an order of magnitude slower than those observed in UC/sub 2/. No metallic fission product release from TRISO particles was indicated until the SiC layer thickness was reduced by 50%.

• Research Organization: General Atomic Co., San Diego, CA
• DOE Contract Number: EY-76-C-03-0167
• OSTI ID: 5648942
• Conference Information: Journal Name: J. Am. Ceram. Soc.; (United States) Journal Volume: 61:11-12
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
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Nonbreeding
Graphite Moderated
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360201* -- Ceramics
Cermets
& Refractories-- Preparation & Fabrication
360204 -- Ceramics
Cermets
& Refractories-- Physical Properties
ACTINIDE COMPOUNDS
CARBIDES
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DEPOSITION
DIMENSIONS
FISSION PRODUCT RELEASE
FUEL PARTICLES
GAS COOLED REACTORS
GRAPHITE MODERATED REACTORS
HTGR TYPE REACTORS
LOSSES
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PHYSICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIATION EFFECTS
REACTORS
SILICON CARBIDES
SILICON COMPOUNDS
SURFACE COATING
TEMPERATURE GRADIENTS
THICKNESS
URANIUM CARBIDES
URANIUM COMPOUNDS
URANIUM OXIDES