Helium diffusivity in oxide nuclear fuel: Critical data analysis and new correlations

Luzzi, L.; Cognini, L.; Pizzocri, D.; Barani, T.; Pastore, G.; Schubert, A.; Wiss, T.; Van Uffelen, P.

doi:10.1016/j.nucengdes.2018.01.044

Title: Helium diffusivity in oxide nuclear fuel: Critical data analysis and new correlations

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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:

Luzzi, L. ^[1]; Cognini, L. ^[2]; Pizzocri, D. ^[1]; Barani, T. ^[1]; Pastore, G. ^[3]; Schubert, A. ^[4]; Wiss, T. ^[4]; Van Uffelen, P. ^[4]

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:: Tue Feb 20 00:00:00 EST 2018

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.

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                    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

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                    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.

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@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}

}

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