Irradiation testing of enhanced uranium oxide fuels
Journal article, 2019

Enhanced uranium oxide fuel types are being tested in the Halden Research Reactor in Norway with the aim is to assess the effect that these enhancements have on fuel performance. Fuel temperatures, rod pressures and dimensional changes are being monitored online and an extensive post-irradiation examination programme is planned. Preliminary data show that fuel centerline temperatures can be lowered by addition of ThO2 to the fuel matrix, or by incorporating Cr or SiO2-TiO2 as a network structure within the fuel. In parallel, two types of cladding coatings are tested in order to investigate their in-core properties. No abnormal behaviour has been noted during the first 100 days of irradiation.

Test irradiation

Cladding coating

Thorium

Halden reactor

Additives

Uranium oxide fuel

Author

Klara L Insulander Björk

Chalmers, Physics, Subatomic and Plasma Physics

Thor Energy

J. F. Kelly

Thor Energy

C. Vitanza

Thor Energy

S. S. Drera

Thor Energy

Scott Holcombe

Institutt for energiteknikk

T. Tverberg

Institutt for energiteknikk

H. Tuomisto

Fortum Corporation

J. Wright

Westinghouse Electric Company

Mark Sarsfield

National Nuclear Laboratory

Trevor Blench

Steenkampskraal Thorium Limited

Jae Ho Yang

Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute

Hyun Gil Kim

Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute

Dong Joo Kim

Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute

Cheuk Wah Lau

Thor Energy

Annals of Nuclear Energy

0306-4549 (ISSN) 1873-2100 (eISSN)

Vol. 125 99-106

Subject Categories

Energy Engineering

Other Chemical Engineering

Other Materials Engineering

DOI

10.1016/j.anucene.2018.10.050

More information

Latest update

11/20/2018