Fuel/cladding compatibility in low-burnup U-26Pu-10Zr/HT9 fuel at elevated temperatures
A series of out-of-pile fuel/cladding compatibility tests was conducted on EBR-II-irradiated U-26wt.%Pu-10wt.%Zr fuel specimens with HT9 cladding to support PRISM Advanced Liquid Metal Reactor (ALMR) fuel development. Burnup of the test specimens was 2.3 at.%, the highest available from the EBR-II irradiation program at the time of testing. The test temperatures ranged from 700 to 815{degree}C and the test durations ranged from 2 min to 36 h. Following the tests, the specimens were metallographically examined and the extent of fuel/cladding interaction was determined. Results showed that the interaction between the U-26Pu-10Zr fuel and the HT9 cladding at high temperature resulted in liquid-phase penetration into the cladding, and at the same time, liquefaction of the fuel periphery. The interaction mechanism was similar to that of the lower-Pu fuel/HT9 cladding systems previously tested. In terms of the onset-of-liquid-phase-formation temperature and cladding penetration rates, the performance of the test specimens was comparable to that of the other metallic fuel systems. The compatibility behavior was apparently not affected by the higher Pu content in the fuel. In tests simulating an extremely severe transient (NRC bounding event 1B), that lasted up to 36 h at 700{degree}C, the results indicated slow cladding penetration ({approx}3 {mu}m/h) and minimal fuel liquefaction. 14 refs., 24 figs.
- Research Organization:
- Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-31109-ENG-38
- OSTI ID:
- 714936
- Report Number(s):
- ANL-IFR--152; ON: TI92020137
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Compatibility of low-burnup U-1OZr fuel with HT9 cladding at elevated temperatures
Transmission electron microscopy characterization of the fuel-cladding chemical interactions in HT9 cladded U-10Zr fuel