NSUF 23-4721: In situ irradiation of uranium carbide
Uranium monocarbide (UC) is a fuel material that offers several advantages over traditional oxide fuels, such as UO2. The primary objective of this study is to examine the impact of fission products on fuel swelling in UC and investigate their evolution. To simulate the generation of fission products during reactor operation, Kr and Xe ion implantations will be conducted. In situ transmission electron microscopy (TEM) will be used to visualize the size and density of gas bubbles as a function of irradiation temperature and dose. The fuel swelling will be calculated based on bubble size and density. In addition, the dynamic process of nucleation and growth of dislocation loops/lines to understand the radiation damage will be examined. The in situ microstructure evolution data of UC will be compared directly to that of UO2. This work will be a first-of-kind study of in situ irradiation of pure UC and fill a knowledge gap of radiation effects in UC. The research will be completed within nine months after the proposal is selected. The scientific findings will be disseminated at conferences and the results will be published in peer-reviewed journals.
Additional Info
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Abstract | Uranium monocarbide (UC) is a fuel material that offers several advantages over traditional oxide fuels, such as UO2. The primary objective of this study is to examine the impact of fission products on fuel swelling in UC and investigate their evolution. To simulate the generation of fission products during reactor operation, Kr and Xe ion implantations will be conducted. In situ transmission electron microscopy (TEM) will be used to visualize the size and density of gas bubbles as a function of irradiation temperature and dose. The fuel swelling will be calculated based on bubble size and density. In addition, the dynamic process of nucleation and growth of dislocation loops/lines to understand the radiation damage will be examined. The in situ microstructure evolution data of UC will be compared directly to that of UO2. This work will be a first-of-kind study of in situ irradiation of pure UC and fill a knowledge gap of radiation effects in UC. The research will be completed within nine months after the proposal is selected. The scientific findings will be disseminated at conferences and the results will be published in peer-reviewed journals. |
| Award Announced Date | 2023-06-01T09:01:22.843 |
| Awarded Institution | None |
| Facility | None |
| Facility Tech Lead | Alina Zackrone, Wei-Ying Chen |
| Irradiation Facility | Intermediate Voltage Electron Microscopy (IVEM)-Tandem Facility |
| PI | Lingfeng He |
| PI Email | [email protected] |
| Project Type | RTE |
| RTE Number | None |