In-reactor performance of methods to control fuel-cladding chemical interaction. [LMFBR]

Conference · Mon Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1979

OSTI ID:6112530

Weber, E. T.; Gibby, R. L.; Wilson, C. N.; Lawrence, L. A.; Adamson, M. G.

Inner surface corrosion of austenitic stainless steel cladding by oxygen and reactive fission product elements requires a 50 ..mu..m wastage allowance in current FBR reference oxide fuel pin design. Elimination or reduction of this wastage allowance could result in better reactor efficiency and economics through improvements in fuel pin performance and reliability. Reduction in cladding thickness and replacement of equivalent volume with fuel result in improved breeding capability. Of the factors affecting fuel-cladding chemical interaction (FCCI), oxygen activity within the fuel pin can be most readily controlled and/or manipulated without degrading fuel pin performance or significantly increasing fuel fabrication costs. There are two major approaches to control oxygen activity within an oxide fuel pin: (1) control of total oxygen inventory and chemical activity (..delta.. anti GO/sub 2/) by use of low oxygen-to-metal ratio (O/M) fuel; and (2) incorporation of a material within the fuel pin to provide in-situ control of oxygen activity (..delta.. anti GO/sub 2/) and fixation of excess oxygen prior to, or in preference to reaction with the cladding. The paper describes irradiation tests which were conducted in EBR-II and GETR incorporating oxygen buffer/getter materials and very low O/M fuel to control oxygen activity in sealed fuel pins.

• Research Organization: Hanford Engineering Development Lab., Richland, WA (USA); General Electric Co., Vallecitos, NM (USA)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: EY-76-C-14-2170
• OSTI ID: 6112530
• Report Number(s): HEDL-SA-1579; CONF-790306-15
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
210500* -- Power Reactors
Breeding
BREEDER REACTORS
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
CORROSION PROTECTION
EPITHERMAL REACTORS
FAST REACTORS
FBR TYPE REACTORS
FUEL CANS
FUEL ELEMENTS
FUEL PELLETS
FUEL-CLADDING INTERACTIONS
GETTERING
GETTERS
LIQUID METAL COOLED REACTORS
LMFBR TYPE REACTORS
PELLETS
PERFORMANCE TESTING
QUANTITY RATIO
REACTOR COMPONENTS
REACTORS
TESTING