Fully ceramic microencapsulated fuel in prismatic high temperature gas-cooled reactors: Analysis of reactor performance and safety characteristics

Lu, Cihang; Hiscox, Briana; Terrani, Kurt A.

doi:10.1016/j.anucene.2017.12.021

Cited by 46 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 33 publications

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“…If the flow is incompressible, e = C v T because the flow is always at constant volume, and Eq. (2.49) can be written as 50) where the ∂P/∂t term on both sides cancels without the need to assume it is zero and C v is defined in Eq.…”

Section: The Fluid Energy Equationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Many other solid fuel forms encountered in nuclear applications are heterogeneous. Fully Ceramic Microencapsulated (FCM) fuel consists of conventional TRISO particles dispersed in a silicon carbide matrix and fabricated into cylindrical pellets intended for replacement of UO 2 pellets in LWR applications or similar graphite matrix fuels in High Temperature Gas Reactors (HTGRs) [50,51]. For the conversion of test reactors from High Enriched Uranium (HEU) to Low Enriched Uranium (LEU), either the fuel loading or fissile atom density must be increased to retain the same reactor performance.…”

Section: The Interior Solid Energy Equationmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Pronghorn Theory Manual

Novak

Schunert

Carlsen

et al. 2020

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Section: The Fluid Energy Equationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: The Interior Solid Energy Equationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pronghorn Theory Manual

Novak

Schunert

Carlsen

et al. 2020

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“…To further explore the response of TRISO SiC at relevant accident conditions and understand the transition from active to passive oxidation, this study investigates oxidation conditions between 1200 and 1600°C (1473–1873 K) with

{P}_{{{\rm{O}}}_2}

of 0.2 kPa to expand on prior results 18 . Previous studies 19–21 conducted on the oxidation of SiC layer in TRISO particles in oxygen have been carried out at higher

{P}_{{{\rm{O}}}_2}

, which might be away from reality as the presence of large amounts of matrix graphite materials consumes significant quantities of oxidants via oxidation 22–24 …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…18 Previous studies [19][20][21] conducted on the oxidation of SiC layer in TRISO particles in oxygen have been carried out at higher 𝑃 O 2 , which might be away from reality as the presence of large amounts of matrix graphite materials consumes significant quantities of oxidants via oxidation. [22][23][24]…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

High‐temperature oxidation behavior of the SiC layer of TRISO particles in low‐pressure oxygen

et al. 2023

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Surrogate tristructural-isotropic (TRISO)-coated fuel particles were oxidized in 0.2 kPa O 2 at 1200-1600 • C to examine the behavior of the SiC layer and understand the mechanisms. The thickness and microstructure of the resultant SiO 2 layers were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy, focused ion beam, and transmission electron microscopy. The majority of the surface comprised smooth, amorphous SiO 2 with a constant thickness indicative of passive oxidation. The apparent activation energy for oxide growth was 188 ± 8 kJ/mol and consistent across all temperatures in 0.2 kPa O 2 . The relationship between activation energy and oxidation mechanism is discussed. Raised nodules of porous, crystalline SiO 2 were dispersed across the surface, suggesting that active oxidation and redeposition occurred in those locations. These nodules were correlated with clusters of nanocrystalline SiC grains, which may facilitate active oxidation.These findings suggest that microstructural inhomogeneities such as irregular grain size influence the oxidation response of the SiC layer of TRISO particles and may influence their accident tolerance.

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“…Fully ceramic microencapsulated (FCM) fuel, which can improve the accident tolerance of light water reactors (LWRs), receives much attention because of its excellent oxidation resistance, fission retention capability, high thermal conductivity, and irradiation stability [1][2][3][4]. FCM was designed to improve the fission retention capacity during accident processes; fission retention capacity may be reflected by the integrity of the silicon carbide (SiC) matrix and layers.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Preliminary Analysis of a Fully Ceramic Microencapsulated Fuel Thermal–Mechanical Performance

et al. 2019

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In this paper, a two-dimensional characteristic unit was used to simulate the thermal–mechanical performance of a fully ceramic microencapsulated (FCM) fuel pellet, and the criterion of FCM structure integrity was discussed. FCM structure integrity can be reflected though the integrity of the silicon carbide (SiC) matrix or SiC layers because of the excellent fission retention capability of SiC ceramics. The maximum temperature of the SiC matrix under normal conditions of the pressure water reactor (PWR) environment was about 1390 K, which was lower than the decomposition point of SiC. The maximum hoop stress of the SiC matrix, especially the inner part, was up to about 1200 MPa, and the hoop stress of the non-fuel region part was lower than the inner part, which can be attributed to the deformation of tristructural-isotopic (TRISO) particles. The hoop stress of the SiC layers at the end of life was only about 180 MPa, which is much lower than the strength of the chemical vapor deposition (CVD)-SiC. The failure probability of the SiC layer was lower than 9 × 10−5; thus, the integrity of SiC layers and the fission retention capability were maintained. The structure integrity of FCM fuel was broken because the SiC matrix cracked.

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Fully ceramic microencapsulated fuel in prismatic high temperature gas-cooled reactors: Analysis of reactor performance and safety characteristics

Cited by 46 publications

References 33 publications

Pronghorn Theory Manual

Pronghorn Theory Manual

High‐temperature oxidation behavior of the SiC layer of TRISO particles in low‐pressure oxygen

Preliminary Analysis of a Fully Ceramic Microencapsulated Fuel Thermal–Mechanical Performance

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