Mesoscale modeling of microstructure-dependent thermal conductivity in U-Zr fuels

Chen, Weiming; Bai, Xian-Ming

doi:10.1016/j.jnucmat.2022.153593

Title: Mesoscale modeling of microstructure-dependent thermal conductivity in U-Zr fuels

Journal Article · 09 February 2022 · Journal of Nuclear Materials

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnucmat.2022.153593 · OSTI ID:1977376

Chen, Weiming ^[1]; Bai, Xian-Ming ^[2]

Virginia Polytechnic Inst. and State Univ. (Virginia Tech), Blacksburg, VA (United States); OSTI
Virginia Polytechnic Inst. and State Univ. (Virginia Tech), Blacksburg, VA (United States)

In uranium-zirconium (U-Zr) based metallic fuels, different phases can form at different compositions and temperatures. Typically, lamellar δ-UZr₂ and α-U phases are the dominant microstructures in U-rich U-Zr alloys at temperatures below 880 K. In this work, a finite element method based mesoscale modeling technique is used to calculate the effective thermal conductivities of such heterogeneous microstructures, using the thermal conductivities of two individual phases and their interphase thermal resistance (Kapitza resistance) as input parameters. The Kapitza resistance between δ-UZr₂ and α-U is determined at different temperatures, which shows an approximately T³ dependence in the temperature range between 300 and 800 K. In addition, the Kapitza resistance exhibits a strong dependence on the aspect ratio of the δ-UZr₂ phase. Further, an analytical model is therefore developed to quantify the effects of both temperature and δ-UZr₂ aspect ratio on the Kapitza resistance. Using this newly developed Kapitza resistance model, the effective thermal conductivities of a number of δ-UZr₂+ α-U heterogeneous microstructures in U-Zr alloys, including non-lamellar microstructures, can be estimated accurately.

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Research Organization:: Purdue Univ., West Lafayette, IN (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Nuclear Energy (NE), Nuclear Energy University Program (NEUP)

Grant/Contract Number:: NE0008558

OSTI ID:: 1977376

Journal Information:: Journal of Nuclear Materials, Journal Name: Journal of Nuclear Materials Journal Issue: C Vol. 562; ISSN 0022-3115

Publisher:: ElsevierCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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Title: Mesoscale modeling of microstructure-dependent thermal conductivity in U-Zr fuels

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