Abstract
This paper describes the results of transient experiments using a low enriched uranium silicide (density, 4.0 g U/cm3) and aluminide (density, 2.2 g U/cm3) miniplate fuels prepared for the Japan Research Reactor-3 (JRR-3). The transient irradiation was performed in the Nuclear Safety Research Reactor (NSRR) at the Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute (JAERI). The results obtained are summarized below.
1. | The tested silicide miniplate fuel, which will be a candidate for a future low enriched fuel in the JRR-3 core, did not fail with an energy deposition of 106 cal/g·fuel at a peak cladding surface temperature (PCST) of 508°C. This condition simulated a transient causing blister failure, which was assumed to occur above the PCST of 400°C. Accordingly, the tested silicide miniplate fuel had a strong resistance against blistering up to 508°C. | ||||
2. | The tested aluminide miniplate fuel did not fail with an energy deposition of 55cal/g· fuel at a PCST of 230°C. This condition simulated an accidental water channel closure, which was assumed in the safety analysis of JRR-3. The predicted PCST by using the EUREKA-2 code was about 150°C. Accordingly the conventional aluminide fuel used in JRR-3 was found to be intact under a simulated water channel closure accident. |