The Zirconium-Uranium Dioxide Reaction

Abstract

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Thermal Calculations to Determine Maximum Zircaloy Temperatures During Reactor Operations for Campaign 1 Fuel Assemblies

“…Uranium-zirconium (UZr) alloys and zirconium clad UO2 fuel containing UZr intermetallic compound have the potential to cause explosions during dissolution. UZr intermetallic typically only forms when uranium and zirconium (or zirconium alloy) cladding are in contact at high temperatures [1]. Thermal modeling was performed to determine the maximum cladding temperature for Campaign 1 Zircoloy cladded fuel assembles during reactor operation to help determine if the UZr intermetallic compound could have formed during reactor operations.…”

Penetrate-leach dissolution of zirconium-clad uranium and uranium dioxide fuels

“…UZr 3 dissolves in fluoride-containing reagents, such as Alniflex dissolvent, but it is insoluble in nitric acid. 5 ' 6 Thus, UZr3 not dissolved by the cladding-penetration step is removed with the spent hulls as in the shear-leach process, but in significantly smaller amounts.…”