NSUF 18-1556: TEM Characterization of High Burnup MOX Fuel

MOX fuels offer the potential to power next generation nuclear reactors, while simultaneously mitigating proliferation concerns from long term plutonium storage. The proposed project aims to characterize the behavior of MOX fuels at burnups well beyond the expected reactor lifetime. Using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning TEM (STEM) characterization, the project will examine fuels at burnups of 13.7% and 21.3% fissions per initial metal atom (FIMA). Characterization will focus of the radial evolution of dislocation loops, networks, and secondary fission product phases within individual fuel pellets. Very little nanoscale characterization of Pu-bearing MOX fuels have been performed at this time, making this work highly impactful to the understanding of fuel behavior under relevant reactor operating conditions. Characterization is expected to take place over a 15-day time period, depending on instrument availability. Once complete, the obtained data will provide new insight into the behavior of MOX fuels during late stage operation to potentially aid in the design of future fuel elements and predictive models.

Additional Info

Field	Value
Abstract	MOX fuels offer the potential to power next generation nuclear reactors, while simultaneously mitigating proliferation concerns from long term plutonium storage. The proposed project aims to characterize the behavior of MOX fuels at burnups well beyond the expected reactor lifetime. Using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning TEM (STEM) characterization, the project will examine fuels at burnups of 13.7% and 21.3% fissions per initial metal atom (FIMA). Characterization will focus of the radial evolution of dislocation loops, networks, and secondary fission product phases within individual fuel pellets. Very little nanoscale characterization of Pu-bearing MOX fuels have been performed at this time, making this work highly impactful to the understanding of fuel behavior under relevant reactor operating conditions. Characterization is expected to take place over a 15-day time period, depending on instrument availability. Once complete, the obtained data will provide new insight into the behavior of MOX fuels during late stage operation to potentially aid in the design of future fuel elements and predictive models.
Award Announced Date	2018-09-17T12:04:49.897
Awarded Institution	University of Michigan
Facility	Michigan Ion Beam Laboratory
Facility Tech Lead	Alina Zackrone, Kevin Field
Irradiation Facility	None
PI	Riley Parrish
PI Email	[email protected]
Project Type	RTE
RTE Number	1556