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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.net.2020.06.025

Design and evaluation of an innovative LWR fuel combined dual-cooled annular geometry and SiC cladding materials  

Deng, Yangbin (Advanced Nuclear Energy Research Team, College of Physics and Optoelectronic Engineering, Shenzhen University)
Liu, Minghao (National Key Laboratory of Science and Technology on Reactor System Design Technology, Nuclear Power Institute of China)
Qiu, Bowen (National Key Laboratory of Science and Technology on Reactor System Design Technology, Nuclear Power Institute of China)
Yin, Yuan (Advanced Nuclear Energy Research Team, College of Physics and Optoelectronic Engineering, Shenzhen University)
Gong, Xing (Advanced Nuclear Energy Research Team, College of Physics and Optoelectronic Engineering, Shenzhen University)
Huang, Xi (Advanced Nuclear Energy Research Team, College of Physics and Optoelectronic Engineering, Shenzhen University)
Pang, Bo (Advanced Nuclear Energy Research Team, College of Physics and Optoelectronic Engineering, Shenzhen University)
Li, Yongchun (Advanced Nuclear Energy Research Team, College of Physics and Optoelectronic Engineering, Shenzhen University)
Publication Information
Nuclear Engineering and Technology / v.53, no.1, 2021 , pp. 178-187 More about this Journal
Abstract
Dual-cooled annular fuel allows a significant increase in power density while maintaining or improving safety margins. However, the dual-cooled design brings much higher Zircaloy charge in reactor core, which could cause a great threaten of hydrogen explosion during severe accidents. Hence, an innovative fuel combined dual-cooled annular geometry and SiC cladding was proposed for the first time in this study. Capabilities of fuel design and behavior simulation were developed for this new fuel by the upgrade of FROBA-ANNULAR code. Considering characteristics of both SiC cladding and dual-cooled annular geometry, the basic fuel design was proposed and preliminary proved to be feasible. After that, a design optimization study was conducted, and the optimal values of as-fabricated plenum pressure and gas gap sizes were obtained. Finally, the performance simulation of the new fuel was carried out with the full consideration of realistic operation conditions. Results indicate that in addition to possessing advantages of both dual-cooled annular fuel and accident tolerant cladding at the same time, this innovative fuel could overcome the brittle failure issue of SiC induced by pellet-cladding interaction.
Keywords
Dual-cooled annular fuel; SiC cladding; Fuel design and optimization; Performance evaluation;
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