Nuclear Engineering and Technology

Korean Nuclear Society (한국원자력학회)
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Development status of microcell UO2 pellet for accident-tolerant fuel

  • Kim, Dong-Joo (Nuclear Fuel Safety Research Division, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute) ;
  • Kim, Keon Sik (Nuclear Fuel Safety Research Division, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute) ;
  • Kim, Dong Seok (Nuclear Fuel Safety Research Division, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute) ;
  • Oh, Jang Soo (Nuclear Fuel Safety Research Division, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute) ;
  • Kim, Jong Hun (Nuclear Fuel Safety Research Division, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute) ;
  • Yang, Jae Ho (Nuclear Fuel Safety Research Division, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute) ;
  • Koo, Yang-Hyun (Nuclear Fuel Safety Research Division, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute)
  • Received : 2017.11.09
  • Accepted : 2017.12.20
  • Published : 2018.03.25
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Abstract

A microcell $UO_2$ pellet, as an accident-tolerant fuel pellet, is being developed to enhance the accident tolerance of nuclear fuels under accident conditions as well as the fuel performance under normal operation conditions. Improved capture-ability for highly radioactive and corrosive fission product (Cs and I) is the distinct feature of a ceramic microcell $UO_2$ pellet, and the enhanced pellet thermal conductivity is that of a metallic microcell $UO_2$ pellet. The fuel temperature can be effectively decreased by enhanced thermal conductivity. In this study, the material concepts of metallic and ceramic microcell $UO_2$ pellets were designed, and the fabrication process of microcell $UO_2$ pellets embodying the designed concept was developed. We successfully implemented the microcell $UO_2$ pellets and produced microcell $UO_2$ pellets. In addition, an assessment of the out-of-pile properties of a microcell $UO_2$ pellet was performed, and the in-reactor performance and behavior of the developed microcell pellets were evaluated through a Halden irradiation test. According to the expectations, the excellent performance of the microcell $UO_2$ pellets was confirmed by the online measurement data of the Halden irradiation test.

Keywords

References

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