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Experimental results of the irradiation of long rod duplex pellet screening tests in the NRX reactor (NLDR-1 test) (AWBA Development Program)

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:6654046
One of the principal areas of investigation in the Advanced Water Breeder Applications (AWBA) program at the Bettis Laboratory is the duplex pellet concept. A duplex pellet consists of a cylindrical ThO/sub 2/ central pellet (fertile material) inside an oxide annulus of either UO/sub 2/, UO/sub 2/-ThO/sub 2/, or UO/sub 2/-ZrO/sub 2/-CaO (fissile material). The NLDR-1 test is one of several screening irradiation tests performed to investigate the behavior of duplex pellets. It consists of two 110-inch long, 0.3 inch diameter, Zircaloy-4 clad rods containing duplex pellets. One rod contained UO/sub 2/ annuli. The other rod contained UO/sub 2/-ZrO/sub 2/-CaO annuli. Both rods were irradiated in pressurized water loops in the NRX reactor to peak depletions of 76,000 MWd/MT U + TH (UO/sub 2/ rod) and 120,000 MWd/MT U + Th (UO/sub 2/-ZrO/sub 2/CaO rod) and average depletions of about 63,000 MWd/MT and about 100,000 MWd/MT, respectively. Peak linear power outputs were 15.3 kW/ft (UO/sub 2/ rod) and 13.9 kW/ft (UO/sub 2/-ZrO/sub 2/-CaO rod). Both rods were periodically removed from the reactor for nondestructive examinations.
Research Organization:
Bettis Atomic Power Lab., Pittsburgh, PA (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
AC11-76PN00014
OSTI ID:
6654046
Report Number(s):
WAPD-TM-1492; ON: DE83001849
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English