You need JavaScript to view this

Interaction of molten aluminum cladding with U{sub 3}Si{sub 2} particles under transient conditions

Abstract

Fresh silicide mini-plates having density of 4.8 gU/c.c. fabricated by CERCA and B and W were pulse-irradiation in the Nuclear Safety Research Reactor (NSRR) at the Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute (JAERI) over the melting point of aluminum (Al) cladding. Two irradiation tests were conducted in stagnant water at room temperature (about 20degC) and 1 atmospheric pressure inside the sealed irradiation capsule. In the course of pulse-irradiation changes of cladding temperature rise were observed indicating departure from nucleate boiling (DNB) and Al cladding melt occurred in the tested fuel plates. The peak cladding surface temperature recorded was 971degC in maximum. Temperature rise rate in average was 3.3 x 10{sup 3}degC/s. Post-pulse-irradiation examination (PIE) revealed that the tested mini-plate was damaged at the energy deposition of 164 cal/g fuel by the melting of Al cladding and that of aluminum matrix. Molten aluminum reacted with U{sub 3}Si{sub 2} particles dispersed in Al matrix. This reaction resulted in forming multi-reaction phases at the surroundings of the original U{sub 3}Si{sub 2} particles with different thickness of reaction phases where concentration of uranium, silicon and aluminum elements across reaction phase changed greatly. This redistribution has a potential to reduce the melting point of original fuel  More>>
Authors:
Yanagisawa, Kazuaki [1] 
  1. Japan Atomic Energy Research Inst., Tokai, Ibaraki (Japan). Tokai Research Establishment
Publication Date:
Jul 01, 1993
Product Type:
Technical Report
Report Number:
JAERI-M-93-129
Reference Number:
SCA: 220300; PA: JPN-93:012054; EDB-94:024104; ERA-19:009041; NTS-94:017568; SN: 94001140263
Resource Relation:
Other Information: PBD: Jul 1993
Subject:
22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS; FUEL-CLADDING INTERACTIONS; URANIUM SILICIDES; ALUMINIUM; FUEL CANS; TRANSIENTS; NSRR REACTOR; DEPARTURE NUCLEATE BOILING; MELTING; IRRADIATION; SURFACES; TEMPERATURE DEPENDENCE; FUEL ELEMENT FAILURE; POST-IRRADIATION EXAMINATION; METALLOGRAPHY; 220300; FUEL ELEMENTS
OSTI ID:
10120791
Research Organizations:
Japan Atomic Energy Research Inst., Tokyo (Japan)
Country of Origin:
Japan
Language:
English
Other Identifying Numbers:
Other: ON: DE94737832; TRN: JP9312054
Availability:
OSTI; NTIS; INIS
Submitting Site:
JPN
Size:
25 p.
Announcement Date:
Jun 30, 2005

Citation Formats

Yanagisawa, Kazuaki. Interaction of molten aluminum cladding with U{sub 3}Si{sub 2} particles under transient conditions. Japan: N. p., 1993. Web.
Yanagisawa, Kazuaki. Interaction of molten aluminum cladding with U{sub 3}Si{sub 2} particles under transient conditions. Japan.
Yanagisawa, Kazuaki. 1993. "Interaction of molten aluminum cladding with U{sub 3}Si{sub 2} particles under transient conditions." Japan.
@misc{etde_10120791,
title = {Interaction of molten aluminum cladding with U{sub 3}Si{sub 2} particles under transient conditions}
author = {Yanagisawa, Kazuaki}
abstractNote = {Fresh silicide mini-plates having density of 4.8 gU/c.c. fabricated by CERCA and B and W were pulse-irradiation in the Nuclear Safety Research Reactor (NSRR) at the Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute (JAERI) over the melting point of aluminum (Al) cladding. Two irradiation tests were conducted in stagnant water at room temperature (about 20degC) and 1 atmospheric pressure inside the sealed irradiation capsule. In the course of pulse-irradiation changes of cladding temperature rise were observed indicating departure from nucleate boiling (DNB) and Al cladding melt occurred in the tested fuel plates. The peak cladding surface temperature recorded was 971degC in maximum. Temperature rise rate in average was 3.3 x 10{sup 3}degC/s. Post-pulse-irradiation examination (PIE) revealed that the tested mini-plate was damaged at the energy deposition of 164 cal/g fuel by the melting of Al cladding and that of aluminum matrix. Molten aluminum reacted with U{sub 3}Si{sub 2} particles dispersed in Al matrix. This reaction resulted in forming multi-reaction phases at the surroundings of the original U{sub 3}Si{sub 2} particles with different thickness of reaction phases where concentration of uranium, silicon and aluminum elements across reaction phase changed greatly. This redistribution has a potential to reduce the melting point of original fuel core by formation of U{sub 3}Si and UAlx. Additionally, as a result of eutectic reaction, many small particles were precipitated inside the original U{sub 3}Si{sub 2} particles. When the fuel was heated up over the melting point, molten Al cladding agglomerated significantly. At the plate center, many aluminum holes with various diameters were formed. At the plate edge, separation of fuel core occurred. In spite of these damages, within this experimental scope, there occurred neither fuel plate fragmentation nor mechanical energy release. (author).}
place = {Japan}
year = {1993}
month = {Jul}
}