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

Fuel rod behavior during test PCM-2. [PWR]

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:6142236

The results are presented from the Power-Cooling-Mismatch (PCM) Test Series, Test PCM-2, conducted in the Power Burst Facility at the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory. Four unirradiated pressurized water reactor (PWR) type fuel rods were subjected to eight departure from nucleate boiling (DNB) cycles to provide data on the thermal hydraulic conditions which affect the onset of DNB and termination of film boiling operation during nuclear operation in a PWR environment. During the last DNB cycle, film boiling conditions were continued for up to 117 seconds to provide data on the effects of sustained film boiling operation on fuel rod thermal and mechanical behavior. Conclusions were reached on factors which affect the onset of DNB and termination of film boiling, the effects of sustained film boiling on fuel rod behavior, and the resultant damage to the rod when cladding temperatures equilibrate in the high alpha phase (810 to 1105 K) temperature range and above the beta phase transformation temperature (> 1245 K).

Research Organization:
Idaho National Engineering Lab., Idaho Falls (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
EY-76-C-07-1570
OSTI ID:
6142236
Report Number(s):
NUREG/CR-0647; TREE-1332
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English