Development of Innovative Accident Tolerant High Thermal Conductivity UO2-Diamond Composite Fuel Pellets

Tulenko, James¹  Subhash, Ghatu¹ 

[1] Univ. of Florida, Gainesville, FL (United States)

关键词: URANIUM DIOXIDE;    THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY;    DIAMONDS;    FUEL PELLETS;    ACCIDENT-TOLERANT NUCLEAR FUELS;    PARTICLES;    FUEL PINS;    IRRADIATION;    PERFORMANCE;    POWDERS;   

DOI  :  10.2172/1239275
RP-ID  :  DOE/NEUP--12-4037
PID  :  OSTI ID: 1239275
Others  :  Other: 12-4037
Others  :  TRN: US1600562

学科分类：核能源与工程

美国|英语

来源: SciTech Connect

【 摘 要 】

The University of Florida (UF) evaluated a composite fuel consisting of UO₂ powder mixed with diamond micro particles as a candidate as an accident-tolerant fuel (ATF). The research group had previous extensive experience researching with diamond micro particles as an addition to reactor coolant for improved plant thermal performance. The purpose of this research work was to utilize diamond micro particles to develop UO₂-Diamond composite fuel pellets with significantly enhanced thermal properties, beyond that already being measured in the previous UF research projects of UO₂ ??? SiC and UO₂ ??? Carbon Nanotube fuel pins. UF is proving with the current research results that the addition of diamond micro particles to UO₂ may greatly enhanced the thermal conductivity of the UO₂ pellets producing an accident-tolerant fuel. The Beginning of life benefits have been proven and fuel samples are being irradiated in the ATR reactor to confirm that the thermal conductivity improvements are still present under irradiation.