Demonstration of fuel resistant to pellet-cladding interaction: Phase 2. Third semiannual report, January-June 1980

Technical Report · Mon Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1980

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6724579· OSTI ID:6724579

Rosenbaum, H. S. ^[1]

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1. comp.

Two fuel concepts are being developed for possible demonstration within this program: (a) Cu-barrier fuel and (b) Zr-liner fuel. These advanced fuels (known collectively as barrier fuels) have special fuel cladding designed to avoid the harmful effects of localized stress and reactive fission products during reactor service. Within the work scope of this program one of these concepts is to be selected for demonstration in a commercial power reactor. It was decided to demonstrate Zr-liner in 132 bundles which have liners of either crystal-bar zirconium or of low-oxygen sponge zirconium in the reload for Quad Cities Unit 2, Cycle 6. Irradiation testing or barrier fuel was continued, and the superior PCI resistance of Zr-liner fuel was further substantiated in the current report period. Furthermore, an irradiation experiment in which Zr-liner fuel, having a deliberately fabricated cladding perforation, was operated at a linear heat generation rate of 35 kW/m to a burnup of approx. 3 MWd/kg U showed no unusual signs of degradation compared with a similarly defected reference fuel rod. Four lead test assemblies of barrier fuel (two of Zr-liner and two of Cu-barrier), presently under irradiation in Quad Cities Unit 1, have achieved a burnup of 11 MWd/kg U.

• Research Organization: Commonwealth Research Corp., Chicago, IL (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-77ET34001
• OSTI ID: 6724579
• Report Number(s): GEAP-25163-3
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
210100* -- Power Reactors
Nonbreeding
Light-Water Moderated
Boiling Water Cooled
BWR TYPE REACTORS
COPPER
DEMONSTRATION PROGRAMS
DIFFUSION BARRIERS
ELEMENTS
ENRICHED URANIUM REACTORS
FUEL ASSEMBLIES
FUEL ELEMENT CLUSTERS
FUEL-CLADDING INTERACTIONS
LINERS
METALS
PERFORMANCE TESTING
POWER REACTORS
QUAD CITIES-1 REACTOR
QUAD CITIES-2 REACTOR
REACTORS
TESTING
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
WATER COOLED REACTORS
WATER MODERATED REACTORS
ZIRCONIUM