• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.56 no.3
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• pp.846-854
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• 2024

FEMAXI-ATF is being developed for fuel performance modeling of SiC cladded UO2 fuel with focuses on modeling pellet-cladding mechanical interactions (PCMI). The code considers probability distributions of mechanical strengths of monolithic SiC (mSiC) and SiC fiber reinforced SiC matrix composite (SiC/SiC), while it models pseudo-ductility of SiC/SiC and propagation of cladding failures across the wall thickness direction in deterministic manner without explicitly modeling cracks based on finite element method in one-dimensional geometry. Some hypothetical BWR power ramp conditions were used to test sensitivities of different model parameters on the analyzed PCMI behavior. The results showed that propagation of the cladding failure could be modeled by appropriately reducing modulus of elasticities of the failed wall element, so that the mechanical load of the failed element could be re-distributed to other intact elements. The probability threshold for determination of the wall element failure did not have large influence on the predicted power at failure when the threshold was varied between 25 % and 75 %. The current study is still limited with respect to mechanistic modeling of SiC failure as it only models the propagation of the cladding wall element failure across the homogeneous continuum wall without considering generations and propagations of cracks.

• Advances in Energy Research
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.91-105
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• 2017

Thermal hydraulic (TH) analysis of nuclear power reactors is utmost important. In this way, the numerical codes that preparing TH data in reactor core are essential. In this paper, a subchannel analysis of a Russian pressurized water reactor (WWER1000) core with enhanced numerical code is carried out. For this, in fluid domain, the mass, axial and lateral momentum and energy conservation equations for desired control volume are solved, numerically. In the solid domain, the cylindrical heat transfer equation for calculation of radial temperature profile in fuel, gap and clad with finite difference and finite element solvers are considered. The dependence of material properties to fuel burnup with Calza-Bini fuel-gap model is implemented. This model is coupled with Isotope Generation and Depletion Code (ORIGEN2.1). The possibility of central hole consideration in fuel pellet is another advantage of this work. In addition, subchannel to subchannel and subchannel to rod connection data in hexagonal fuel assembly geometry could be prepared, automatically. For a demonstration of code capability, the steady state TH analysis of a the WWER1000 core is compromised with Thermal-hydraulic analysis code (COBRA-EN). By thermal hydraulic parameters averaging Fuel Assembly-to-Fuel Assembly method, the one sixth (symmetry) of the Boushehr Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP) core with regular subchannels are modeled. Comparison between the results of the work and COBRA-EN demonstrates some advantages of the presented code. Using the code the thermal modeling of the fuel rods with considering the fission gas generation would be possible. In addition, this code is compatible with neutronic codes for coupling. This method is faster and more accurate for symmetrical simulation of the core with acceptable results.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.8 no.9
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• pp.783-790
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• 1998

New process development of nuclear fuel fabrication for nuclear power plant was attempted by induction plasma technology with yttria-stabilized-zirconia ($\textrm{ZrO}_{2}$-$\textrm{Y}_{2}\textrm{O}_{3}$)powder, similar to $\textrm{UO}_{2}$, in the respect of melting point and physicochemical characteristics. Extent of powder melting was affected greatly by plasma plate power and particle size. Being optimized such as, sheath gas composition, probe position, particle size and spraying distance, dense deposit of 97.91% T.D. with deposition rate 20mm/min was attained at the condition of 120/20$\ell$/min of Ar/$\textrm{H}_{2}$ flow rate, 80kw of plate power, 8cm of probe position, 200Torr of chamber pressure and 18cm of spraying distance. The pellet of 96.5% of theoretical density was formed with homogeneity and nice exterior view at the best condition of deposition experiments, and the possibility of new nuclear pellet fabrication process was confirmed. The main and interrelated effects on deposit density were assessed by ANOVA(Ana1ysis of Variance).

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.29 no.8
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• pp.609-616
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• 1992

This study has been investigated on the milling of Aluminium Distearate (ADS) powder and characteristics of the ADS-doped UO2 pellets. As-received ADS powder of the agglomerated particles has not shown any milling effect because of heat generated during planetary milling. But the use of coolant to effectively remove heat generated during milling has been found an effective way in breaking up the agglomerates of ADS powder. The green density of the UO2 pellet decreases with the amount of ADS powder doped. Therefore, in order to get the sintered density of 95% pellet decreases with the amount of ADS powder doped. Therefore, in order to get the sintered density of 95% theoretical density, the 200 ppm ADS-doped UO2 pellet has to be pressed under higher compacting pressure of 3500~4000 kgf/$\textrm{cm}^2$ compared with the ADS-undoped UO2 pellet pressed under around 3000 kgf/$\textrm{cm}^2$. The ADS-dpoed UO2 pellet with even relatively low sintered density of 10.27 g/㎤ exhibits open porosity of 1% while open porosity of the ADS-undoped UO2 pellet is reduced to around 1% only after its sintered density increases to 10.43g/㎤. It is, therefore, concluded that doping of ADS powder significantly contributes to the decrease in open porosity of the UO2 pellet. The dilatometry of the ADS doped UO2 pellet shows the sintering rate curve with the bimodal mode, which could be attributed to a phase reaction between UO2 and ADS. The X-ray diffraction analysis indicates that there occurs not any new phase formed but the shift of the peaks. It would be expected that a phase reaction resulting in solid solution would happen in the temperature range of 130$0^{\circ}C$ to 150$0^{\circ}C$ between UO2 and ADS.

• Proceedings of the KSME Conference
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• 2007.05b
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• pp.2488-2493
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• 2007

A gap conductance is very important factor which can affect nuclear fuel temperature. Especially, in case of an annular fuel, a gap conductance effect can lead an unexpected heat split phenomena which is caused by a large difference of an inner and outer gap conductance. The gap conductance mechanism is very complicated behavior due to the its strong dependency on microscopic factors such as a contact surface roughness, local contact pressure and local temperature. In this paper, for the decision of test temperature and pressure range, a procedure and calculation results of in-reactor fuel temperature and pressure analysis are summarized which can be applied to test equipment design and determination of test matrix. Based upon analysis results, it is concluded that the minimum and maximum test temperature are $300^{\circ}C$ and $530^{\circ}C$ respectively, and the maximum pellet/cladding interfacial contact pressure should be observed up to 45MPa.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.52 no.12
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• pp.2887-2900
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• 2020

Cladding failure in a fuel rod during operation in a BWR is analyzed using a FALCON code-based model. Comparative calculation with a neighbouring, intact rod is presented, as well. A considerable 'hot spot' effect in cladding temperature is predicted with the SLICE-DO model due to a thermal barrier caused by the localized crud deposition. Particularly significant overheating is expected to occur on the affected side of the cladding of the failed rod, in agreement with signs of significant localized crud deposition as revealed by Post Irradiation Examination. Different possibilities (criteria) are checked, and Pellet-Cladding Mechanical Interaction (PCMI) is shown to be one of the plausible potential threats. It is shown that PCMI could lead to discernible concentrated inelastic deformation in the overheated part of the cladding. None of the specific mechanisms considered can be experimentally or analytically identified as an only cause of the rod failure. However, according to the current calculation, a possibility of cladding failure by PCMI cannot be excluded if the crud thickness exceeded 300 ㎛.

• Proceedings of the KSME Conference
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• 2008.11b
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• pp.2236-2241
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• 2008

The surface heat flux of nuclear fuel rod is the most important factor which can affect safety of reactor and fuel. If fuel rod surface heat flux exceeds the CHF(${\underline{C}}ritical$ ${\underline{H}}eat$ ${\underline{F}}lux$), fuel can be damaged. In case of double cooled annular fuel, which is under developing, contains two coolant channels. Therefore, a generated heat in the fuel pellet can move to inner or outer channel and heat flow direction is decided by both sides heat resistance which varied by dimension and material property change which caused by temperature and irradiation. The new program(called DUO) was developed. For the calculation of surface heat flux, a both sides convection by inner/outer coolant, s gap temperature jump and conduction in the fuel are modeled. Especially, temperature and time dependent fuel dimension and material property change are considered during the iteration. A sample calculation result shows that the DUO program has sufficient performance for annular fuel thermal hydraulics design.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.55-63
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• 2003

Threshold porosity above which fission gas release channels would be formed in the rim egion of high burnup UO$_2$ fuel was estimated by the Monte Carlo method and Hoshen-Kopelman algorithm. With the assumption that both rim pore and rim grain can be represented by cube, pore distribution in the rim was simulated 3-dimensionally by the Monte Carlo method according to porosity and pore size distribution. Then, using the Hoshen-Kopelman algorithm, the fraction of open rim pores interlinked to the outer surface of a fuel pellet was derived as a function of rim porosity. The simulation showed that porosity of 24-25% is the threshold above which the number of rim pores forming release channels increases very rapidly. On the other hand, channels would not be formed if the porosity is less than about 23.5%. This is consistent with the observation that, for porosity less than 23.5%, almost no fission gas is released in the rim. However, once the rim porosity reaches beyond 25%, extensive open paths would be developed and considerable fission gas release would start in the rim.

• Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.53-64
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• 2007

The dynamic release behavior of Cs from high burn-up spent PWR fuel was experimentally performed under the conditions of a thermal treatment process such as voloxidation and sintering conditions. In voloxidation process, influence of the oxidation and reduction atmosphere on the Cs release characteristic using fragment type of spent fuel heated up to $1,500^{\circ}C$ was compared. In sintering process, temperature history effect on Cs release behavior was evaluated using green pellet under 4% $H_2/Ar$ environment. Temperature range for complete Cs release from spent fuel fragment under voloxidation condition was about $800^{\circ}C{\sim}1,200^{\circ}C$, but that of green pellet under the reduction atmosphere was $1,100^{\circ}C{\sim}1,400^{\circ}C$. Key parameters on Cs release behavior from spent fuel was powder formation as well as the diffusion rate of Cs compound to grain boundary and fuel surface.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.196-200
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• 1997

The variation of sintered density and fain size in ex-AUC, ex-ADU and granulated ex-ADU UO$_2$ pellets in which 0.1~1.0wt% Nb$_2$O$_{5}$ were doped were examined. Pellets were sintered in an atmosphere of H$_2$ at 1$700^{\circ}C$ for 4h. All the specimens tested shooed more than 94% T.D.(Theoretical Density). Sintered density decreased with increasing the amount of Nb$_2$O$_{5}$. Powder types had little influence on the sintered density. Pore size distribution was shifted to the larger ones as Nb$_2$O$_{5}$ was added. The increase of total pore volume and grain growth due to the addition of Nb$_2$O$_{5}$ were thought to be the cause of the sintered density decrease. The largest grain size was seen in the 1. 0wt% Nb$_2$O$_{5}$ doped ex-AUC UO$_2$ pellets. Their average size was 13.9 ${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$.m}$.