AGR-2 Loose Particle Heating Tests in the Furnace for Irradiated TRISO Testing
A furnace system was developed to thermally expose individual tristructural-isotropic (TRISO) coated particles to expand upon established postirradiation examination (PIE) safety testing that is used to explore particle failures and fission product release from compacts. Two systems were installed in the Irradiated Fuels Examination Facility (IFEL) at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). The targeted design was intended to be simple and flexible to allow a range in conditions to be explored. Initial inert atmosphere testing indicated the presence of particle failures, so modifications to the testing approach were implemented to improve the furnace operation. Ultimately, burnback particles were analyzed to provide a direct measurement of fission product release, thus avoiding the complications from integral release that were observed during whole compact testing. Particles were exposed to temperatures ranging 1,150–1,300°C for up to 1,500 h and 1,600°C up to 500 h. No indication of uniform release of fission products such as 106Ru, 125Sb, or 154Eu was observed, however, indication of particle dependent 154Eu release was suggested for select particles. Exploration of 110mAg release was limited to 1,150°C and 1,300°C up to 500 h. The analysis indicated that there was nonuniform release of 110mAg and supports a possible bimodal temperature dependence on silver release.
- Research Organization:
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Nuclear Energy (NE), Reactor Fleet and Advanced Reactor Development
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC05-00OR22725
- OSTI ID:
- 1661209
- Report Number(s):
- ORNL/TM-2020/1715; TRN: US2202376
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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