Ex-reactor determination of thermal gap conductance between uranium dioxide--Zircaloy-4 interfaces. [BWR; PWR]

Conference · Mon Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1977

OSTI ID:6650643

Garnier, J. E.; Begej, S.

A study of thermal gap conductance between UO/sub 2/ and Zircaloy-4 has been initiated utilizing a unique transient pulse technique: Modified Pulse Design (MPD)--a technique employing a heat pulse (laser) and signal detector to monitor the energy transmitted through UO/sub 2/-Zircaloy samples both in contact and separated by a gap. Initial experiments have been conducted as a function of temperature (to 873/sup 0/K), gas composition (He, He : Ar, Ar), and gap width 6.0 x 10/sup -4/ and 2.18 x 10/sup -3/ cm). The thermal gap conductance is dependent upon these variables, and comparison with calculated results using existing models for the temperature jump distance is made. A new concept involving direct energy transfer across narrow gaps by individual gas molecules is also considered.

• Research Organization: Battelle Pacific Northwest Labs., Richland, WA (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: EY-76-C-06-1830
• OSTI ID: 6650643
• Report Number(s): PNL-SA-6335; CONF-770847-9
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

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42 ENGINEERING
420400 -- Engineering-- Heat Transfer & Fluid Flow
ACTINIDE COMPOUNDS
ALLOYS
BWR TYPE REACTORS
CHALCOGENIDES
ENERGY TRANSFER
FUEL ELEMENTS
HEAT TRANSFER
INTERFACES
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PWR TYPE REACTORS
REACTOR COMPONENTS
REACTORS
TIN ALLOYS
URANIUM COMPOUNDS
URANIUM DIOXIDE
URANIUM OXIDES
WATER COOLED REACTORS
WATER MODERATED REACTORS
ZIRCALOY
ZIRCALOY 4
ZIRCONIUM ALLOYS
ZIRCONIUM BASE ALLOYS