In-pile and out-of-pile corrosion behavior of thoria-urania pellets (LWBR (Light Water Breeder Reactor) Development program)

Technical Report · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1987

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/7125004· OSTI ID:7125004

Clayton, J. C.

The out-of-pile corrosion behavior of ThO/sub 2/ and ThO/sub 2/-UO/sub 2/ fuel pellets was studied in high temperature, flowing, oxygenated water. Weight changes of the specimens were determined periodically during the corrosions exposures, some of which were as long as 265 days; in addition, ceramographic examinations were carried out on selected specimens. Both ThO/sub 2/ and homogeneous ThO/sub 2/-UO/sub 2/ (2 to 30 wt % UO/sub 2/) fuel showed excellent corrosion resistance, the former intrinsically because it cannot be oxidized and the latter because oxidation creates a mechanically stable surface phase. These out-of-pile results predicted favorable corrosion stability in defected irradiated fuel elements. The maintenance of ThO/sub 2/ and ThO/sub 2/-UO/sub 2/ fuel integrity in defected fuel rods was confirmed by an irradiation test program. Both the in-pile and out-of-pile test results support the conclusion that LWBR-type fuel rods containing ThO/sub 2/ and ThO/sub 2/-UO/sub 2/ pellets can successfully operate in the defect condition with limited radioactivity release to the coolant.

• Research Organization: Bettis Atomic Power Lab., West Mifflin, PA (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC11-76PN00014
• OSTI ID: 7125004
• Report Number(s): WAPD-TM-1548; ON: DE87005621
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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