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Reactivity Initiated Accident Test Series: Test RIA 1-2. Quick look report. [BWR hot start-up conditions]

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:6451962
The primary objectives of Test RIA 1-2 were to (a) characterize the response of preirradiated fuel rods during an RIA event conducted at boiling water reactor (BWR) hot-startup conditions for an axial peak pellet surface energy of 200 cal/g UO/sub 2/, and (b) evaluate the effect of internal rod pressure on preirradiated fuel rod response during an RIA event. The test consisted of four, individually shrouded, pressurized water reactor-type fuel rods previously irradiated to burnups of about 4800 MWd/t. In addition to the power calibration and preconditioning, the fuel rods were subjected to a single power burst that deposited a total pellet surface energy of approximately 200 cal/gm UO/sub 2/ at the axial peak power location (estimated using the core power chambers to relate steady state and transient powers). The test data indicate that the two irradiated fuel rods prepressurized to 2.41 MPa did not fail. FRAP-T4 calculations had predicted that prompt cladding rupture would occur for pellet surface energy depositions of 206 cal/g or greater. Although the two fuel rods prepressurized to 2.41 MPa did not fail, the data indicate that at least one of the two fuel rods prepressurized to 0.1 MPa did fail. Based on the core power chamber data, this rod failure indicates a threshold for the preirradiated fuel rods near or below 200 cal/g UO/sub 2/ total pellet surface energy at the axial flux peak.
Research Organization:
Idaho National Engineering Lab., Idaho Falls (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
EY-76-C-07-1570
OSTI ID:
6451962
Report Number(s):
TFBP-TR-303
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English