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Title: Nuclear Energy Advanced Modeling and Simulation (NEAMS) Accident Tolerant Fuels High Impact Problem: Coordinate Multiscale U3Si2 Modeling

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/1376903· OSTI ID:1376903
 [1];  [1];  [2];  [3];  [1]
  1. Idaho National Lab. (INL), Idaho Falls, ID (United States)
  2. Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
  3. Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)

Since the events at the Fukushima-Daiichi nuclear power plant in March 2011 significant research has unfolded at national laboratories, universities and other institutions into alternative materials that have potential enhanced accident tolerance when compared to traditional \uo~fuel zircaloy clad fuel rods. One of the potential replacement fuels is uranium silicide (\usi) for its higher thermal conductivity and uranium density. The lower melting temperature is of potential concern during postulated accident conditions. Another disadvantage for \usi~ is the lack of experimental data under power reactor conditions. Due to the aggressive development schedule for inserting some of the potential materials into lead test assemblies or rods by 2022~\cite{bragg-sitton_2014} multiscale multiphysics modeling approaches have been used to provide insight into these materials. \\ \noindent The purpose of this letter report is to highlight the multiscale modeling effort for \usi~fuel as part of the Nuclear Energy Advanced Modeling and Simulation (NEAMS) Accident Tolerant Fuel (ATF) High Impact Problem (HIP). This fiscal year two new models for \usi~fuel have been incorporated into the BISON fuel performance code~\cite{Williamson2012} based upon lower length scale simulations using the GRASS-SST rate theory code. The models are briefly described in the following sections.

Research Organization:
Idaho National Lab. (INL), Idaho Falls, ID (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Nuclear Energy (NE)
DOE Contract Number:
DE-AC07-05ID14517
OSTI ID:
1376903
Report Number(s):
INL/EXT-17-42828; TRN: US1801135
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English