NSUF 21-4263: Local thermal properties of fast reactor MOX fuels
This work will be the first application of the thermal conductivity microscope (TCM) to sodium fast reactor (SFR) mixed oxide fuel (MOX). The benefit of using the TCM compared to standard laser flash analysis used on fuel is that the TCM is able to spatially resolve the local thermal conductivity at a resolution in the range of 50-100 micrometers. At high burnup of MOX, extensive migration of fission products towards the fuel to cladding gap occurs, which forms the so-called “Joint Oxide Gaine” or JOG. Using the TCM, the radial distribution of thermal conductivity can be determined and correlated to the elemental composition and underlying microstructure that resulted from a previous RTE (RTE #18-1452). Because the SFR MOX has been irradiated, the TCM is the only facility in the world that can perform these measurements. The scope of the project (1.5 days sample preparation of existing sample at the Irradiated Materials Characterization Laboratory, and 6 days of TCM measurements) is within the scale of an RTE and would provide first-of-its-kind data on the thermal conductivity of irradiated MOX fuel.
Additional Info
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Abstract | This work will be the first application of the thermal conductivity microscope (TCM) to sodium fast reactor (SFR) mixed oxide fuel (MOX). The benefit of using the TCM compared to standard laser flash analysis used on fuel is that the TCM is able to spatially resolve the local thermal conductivity at a resolution in the range of 50-100 micrometers. At high burnup of MOX, extensive migration of fission products towards the fuel to cladding gap occurs, which forms the so-called “Joint Oxide Gaine” or JOG. Using the TCM, the radial distribution of thermal conductivity can be determined and correlated to the elemental composition and underlying microstructure that resulted from a previous RTE (RTE #18-1452). Because the SFR MOX has been irradiated, the TCM is the only facility in the world that can perform these measurements. The scope of the project (1.5 days sample preparation of existing sample at the Irradiated Materials Characterization Laboratory, and 6 days of TCM measurements) is within the scale of an RTE and would provide first-of-its-kind data on the thermal conductivity of irradiated MOX fuel. |
| Award Announced Date | 2021-06-07T14:55:03.56 |
| Awarded Institution | None |
| Facility | None |
| Facility Tech Lead | Alina Zackrone |
| Irradiation Facility | None |
| PI | Troy Munro |
| PI Email | [email protected] |
| Project Type | RTE |
| RTE Number | 4263 |