Alternative versions of inert matrix fuel for the use of civil and weapons-grade plutonium in reactors

Inert matrix fuel in dispersion type fuel elements

“…The second design is a fuel element having a heat conducting Al alloy matrix completed by an isolated arrangement of PuO 2 in a fuel minielement [1,3,4].…”

“…Both fuel element designs are fabricated at the A.A. Bochvar Institute using the developed and industrially applied process in which UO 2 fuel granules are impregnated within a cladding using a molten Al alloy [3,6]. As a result, a metallurgical bond is formed between the cladding and the fuel component leading to a lower operating temperature in the fuel element centre, which makes the fuel element serviceable under transient conditions.…”

“…The main distinction and advantage of such a fuel element stems from the fact that PuO 2 is arranged in fuel minielements that are placed inside a fuel element. The space between the fuel minielements and the fuel cladding is filled with an Al alloy matrix [1,3,4]. Fig.…”

“…The design of the fuels differed a little from that being considered here, since the claddings of the fuels and fuel minielements were fabricated from stainless steel and UO 2 was used in place of the PuO 2 powder. The fuel element was cross-shaped [3]. The local maximum burn-up was 100 MW d kg À1 directly adjacent to the fuel element cladding as calculated for the standard VVER-1000 fuel rod.…”

“…Currently, several versions of dispersion type fuels and isolated fuel made of aluminium alloy matrix are also under consideration [1][2][3][4][5].…”