F1 Phenomenological Test on fuel motion: final report. [LMFBR]

Technical Report · Mon May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1978

OSTI ID:6348473

Palm, R G; Gehl, S M; Fink, C L; Dever, D J; Rothman, A B

TREAT F-series tests are being conducted to provide data on fuel motion in an LMFBR during a hypothetical loss-of-flow accident. Fuel and fuel-boundary conditions in an LMFBR subassembly following sodium voiding and dryout under loss-of-flow conditions are simulated in each F-series test. Simulation is achieved with a single fuel element surrounded by an annular nuclear-heated wall in a dry (no sodium) test capsule. The area inside the heated wall was selected to represent the area inside the perimeter of an LMFBR coolant channel. Test F1 was conducted with an irradiated fuel element to investigate the effect of fission gas on fuel motion at design power levels following cladding melting and drainage. The principal conclusion from Test F1 is that fission products retarded, but did not prevent, eventual fuel collapse. The collapse was retarded by a fuel/fission-product froth that prevented fuel collapse until the fission products separated from the partially molten fuel. The fuel motion observed in F1 represents a particular type of fuel (burnup of 2.35 at.%, power rating of 394 W/cm) transient heated at design power rating.

• Research Organization: Argonne National Lab., IL (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: W-31109-ENG-38
• OSTI ID: 6348473
• Report Number(s): ANL-78-50
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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