Aluminum-uranium fuel-melt behavior during severe nuclear reactor accidents

Journal Article · · Nuclear Safety; (United States)

OSTI ID:6989880

Ellison, P G ^[1]; Hyder, M L; Monson, P R; DeWald, Jr, A B; Long, T A ^[2]; Epstein, M ^[3]

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1. Idaho National Engineering Lab., Idaho Falls, ID (United States)
2. Westinghouse Savannah River Lab., Aiken, SC (United States)
3. Fauske and Associates, Burr Ridge, IL (United States)

The behavior of aluminum-uranium alloy nuclear reactor fuels in severe melting accidents is assessed. The results from several in-pile overheating incidents and from several experimental tests are used to derive conclusions regarding melt behavior and fission-product release in severe reactor accidents. These assessments indicate three distinct stages of fuel failure, which are described in detail. Experimental results that illustrate the foaming behavior of irradiated metallic fuels are also presented. These data describe the importance of the oxide film on the surface of the molten fuel in determining the fuel relocation behavior. The foaming and swelling of the fuel also are shown to correlate with the fission-product release phenomena. 59 refs., 1 tab.

• DOE Contract Number: AC07-76ID01570; AC09-89SR18035
• OSTI ID: 6989880
• Journal Information: Nuclear Safety; (United States), Journal Name: Nuclear Safety; (United States) Vol. 34:2; ISSN 0029-5604; ISSN NUSAAZ
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

050700 -- Nuclear Fuels-- Fuels Production & Properties
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS
220300* -- Nuclear Reactor Technology-- Fuel Elements
220502 -- Nuclear Reactor Technology-- Environmental Aspects-- Radioactive Effluents
220900 -- Nuclear Reactor Technology-- Reactor Safety
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360103 -- Metals & Alloys-- Mechanical Properties
ACCIDENTS
ACTINIDE ALLOYS
ACTINIDES
AIR COOLED REACTORS
ALLOYS
ALUMINIUM ALLOYS
BLISTERS
CALIFORNIUM
CERMETS
CHALCOGENIDES
CLADDING
COLLOIDS
COMPOSITE MATERIALS
DEPOSITION
DISPERSIONS
ELEMENTS
ENRICHED URANIUM REACTORS
EVALUATION
EXPERIMENTAL REACTORS
FILMS
FISSION PRODUCT RELEASE
FOAMS
FUEL ELEMENT FAILURE
GAS COOLED REACTORS
GRAPHITE MODERATED REACTORS
HALOGENS
HOMOGENEOUS REACTORS
IODINE
MATERIALS
MELTING
METALS
NONMETALS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PHASE TRANSFORMATIONS
REACTOR ACCIDENTS
REACTORS
RESEARCH AND TEST REACTORS
RESEARCH REACTORS
SOLID HOMOGENEOUS REACTORS
SPERT-1 REACTOR
SURFACE COATING
TANK TYPE REACTORS
TEST REACTORS
THERMAL REACTORS
TRANSPLUTONIUM ELEMENTS
TRANSURANIUM ELEMENTS
TREAT REACTOR
URANIUM ALLOYS
WATER MODERATED REACTORS