NSUF 22-4425: Electron Probe Microanalysis of Localized Phases in Irradiated U-10 wt%Zr Alloy Fuel
Constituent redistribution in U-Zr fuels during irradiation produces radially-distributed chemically-distinct phase fields, each with different thermal properties and behaviors. These individual properties and behaviors must be characterized to predict the coevolution of fuel temperature, phases, and constituent profiles with precision. This study seeks to correlate microstructure, thermal conductivity measurements and chemical composition as measured on an irradiated FFTF MFF3 U-10 wt% Zr fuel with approximately 13.8 % peak burnup and peak center-line temp of approximately 710°C. By using electron probe microanalysis (EPMA) to measure the chemical composition in this metal fuel specimen at the same locations where thermal conductivity measurements were taken, a link can be made between the microstructure and thermal behavior of post-irradiated U-10 wt% Zr with the chemical composition on a spatially-correlated micrometer scale. EPMA-provided quantitative chemical composition data will provide a link between irradiated fuel thermal and chemical properties on a micrometer spatial scale that has, to date, not been performed.
Additional Info
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Abstract | Constituent redistribution in U-Zr fuels during irradiation produces radially-distributed chemically-distinct phase fields, each with different thermal properties and behaviors. These individual properties and behaviors must be characterized to predict the coevolution of fuel temperature, phases, and constituent profiles with precision. This study seeks to correlate microstructure, thermal conductivity measurements and chemical composition as measured on an irradiated FFTF MFF3 U-10 wt% Zr fuel with approximately 13.8 % peak burnup and peak center-line temp of approximately 710°C. By using electron probe microanalysis (EPMA) to measure the chemical composition in this metal fuel specimen at the same locations where thermal conductivity measurements were taken, a link can be made between the microstructure and thermal behavior of post-irradiated U-10 wt% Zr with the chemical composition on a spatially-correlated micrometer scale. EPMA-provided quantitative chemical composition data will provide a link between irradiated fuel thermal and chemical properties on a micrometer spatial scale that has, to date, not been performed. |
| Award Announced Date | 2022-06-14T07:21:39.54 |
| Awarded Institution | Idaho National Laboratory |
| Facility | Advanced Test Reactor |
| Facility Tech Lead | Alina Zackrone |
| Irradiation Facility | None |
| PI | Luca Capriotti |
| PI Email | [email protected] |
| Project Type | RTE |
| RTE Number | 4425 |