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U.S. Department of Energy
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Examination of a failed rod operating with molten UO/sub 2/--ZrO/sub 2/--CaO fuel (LWBR Development Program)

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:6761405
A 0.250-inch diameter Zircaloy-4 sheathed fuel rod containing dished-end pellets of ZrO/sub 2/ + 6.1 wt % CaO + 33.2 wt % UO/sub 2/ operated at high heat fluxes and with approximately half of the fuel volume in the molten state. It is postulated that contact between molten fuel and the tubing resulted in burn-through and rod failure. The rod operated at full power for 25 minutes after failure, which was sufficient time for intensive hydriding of the cladding to occur. (NSA 21: 17539)
Research Organization:
Bettis Atomic Power Lab., Pittsburgh, PA (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
AT(11-1)-GEN-14
OSTI ID:
6761405
Report Number(s):
WAPD-TM-593
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English