Helium diffusivity in oxide nuclear fuel: Critical data analysis and new correlations
Abstract
Helium is relevant in determining nuclear fuel behaviour. It affects the performance of nuclear fuel both in reactor and in storage conditions. Helium becomes important in reactor conditions when high burnups are targeted or MOX fuel is used, whereas for storage conditions it can represent a threat to the fuel rods integrity. The accurate knowledge of helium behaviour combined with predictive model capabilities is fundamental for the safe management of nuclear fuel, with helium diffusivity being a critical property. For this reason, a considerable number of separate effect experiments in the last fifty years investigated helium diffusivity in nuclear fuel. The aim of this work is to critically review and assess the experimental results concerning the helium diffusivity. Experimental results are critically analysed in terms of the helium introduction technique used (either infusion, implantation or doping) and of sample characteristics (single crystal, poly-crystal or powder). Accordingly, we derived two different correlations for the diffusivity. Clearly, each of the new correlations corresponds to a limited range of application conditions, depending on the experimental data used to derive it. We provide recommendations regarding the proper application conditions for each correlation (e.g., in reactor or storage conditions).
- Authors:
-
- Polytechnic Univ. of Milan (Italy). Dept. of Energy. Nuclear Engineering Division
- Polytechnic Univ. of Milan (Italy). Dept. of Energy. Nuclear Engineering Division; European Commission (EC) Joint Research Centre (JRC), Karlsruhe (Germany). Directorate for Nuclear Safety and Security
- Idaho National Lab. (INL), Idaho Falls, ID (United States). Fuel Modeling and Simulation Dept.
- European Commission (EC) Joint Research Centre (JRC), Karlsruhe (Germany). Directorate for Nuclear Safety and Security
- Publication Date:
- Research Org.:
- Idaho National Lab. (INL), Idaho Falls, ID (United States); Polytechnic Univ. of Milan (Italy); European Commission (EC) Joint Research Centre (JRC), Karlsruhe (Germany)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE Office of Nuclear Energy (NE); European Commission (EC); European Energy Research Alliance (EERA); International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 1466656
- Grant/Contract Number:
- AC07-05ID14517; 198236; 754329; CRP-T12028
- Resource Type:
- Accepted Manuscript
- Journal Name:
- Nuclear Engineering and Design
- Additional Journal Information:
- Journal Volume: 330; Journal ID: ISSN 0029-5493
- Publisher:
- Elsevier
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS; inert gas behaviour; helium behaviour; diffusivity; oxide fuel
Citation Formats
Luzzi, L., Cognini, L., Pizzocri, D., Barani, T., Pastore, G., Schubert, A., Wiss, T., and Van Uffelen, P. Helium diffusivity in oxide nuclear fuel: Critical data analysis and new correlations. United States: N. p., 2018.
Web. doi:10.1016/j.nucengdes.2018.01.044.
Luzzi, L., Cognini, L., Pizzocri, D., Barani, T., Pastore, G., Schubert, A., Wiss, T., & Van Uffelen, P. Helium diffusivity in oxide nuclear fuel: Critical data analysis and new correlations. United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nucengdes.2018.01.044
Luzzi, L., Cognini, L., Pizzocri, D., Barani, T., Pastore, G., Schubert, A., Wiss, T., and Van Uffelen, P. Tue .
"Helium diffusivity in oxide nuclear fuel: Critical data analysis and new correlations". United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nucengdes.2018.01.044. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1466656.
@article{osti_1466656,
title = {Helium diffusivity in oxide nuclear fuel: Critical data analysis and new correlations},
author = {Luzzi, L. and Cognini, L. and Pizzocri, D. and Barani, T. and Pastore, G. and Schubert, A. and Wiss, T. and Van Uffelen, P.},
abstractNote = {Helium is relevant in determining nuclear fuel behaviour. It affects the performance of nuclear fuel both in reactor and in storage conditions. Helium becomes important in reactor conditions when high burnups are targeted or MOX fuel is used, whereas for storage conditions it can represent a threat to the fuel rods integrity. The accurate knowledge of helium behaviour combined with predictive model capabilities is fundamental for the safe management of nuclear fuel, with helium diffusivity being a critical property. For this reason, a considerable number of separate effect experiments in the last fifty years investigated helium diffusivity in nuclear fuel. The aim of this work is to critically review and assess the experimental results concerning the helium diffusivity. Experimental results are critically analysed in terms of the helium introduction technique used (either infusion, implantation or doping) and of sample characteristics (single crystal, poly-crystal or powder). Accordingly, we derived two different correlations for the diffusivity. Clearly, each of the new correlations corresponds to a limited range of application conditions, depending on the experimental data used to derive it. We provide recommendations regarding the proper application conditions for each correlation (e.g., in reactor or storage conditions).},
doi = {10.1016/j.nucengdes.2018.01.044},
journal = {Nuclear Engineering and Design},
number = ,
volume = 330,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Feb 20 00:00:00 EST 2018},
month = {Tue Feb 20 00:00:00 EST 2018}
}
Web of Science