• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.52 no.10
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• pp.2402-2409
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• 2020

Analytical criteria for the onset of fuel fragmentation and Burst Fission Gas Release in fuel rods with ballooned claddings are formulated. On that basis, the GRSW-A model integrated with a fuel behaviour code is updated. After modification, the updated code is successfully applied to simulation of the Halden LOCA test IFA-650.12. Specifically, the calculation with Burst Fission Gas Release during the test resulted in prediction of cladding failure, whereas it could not be predicted at the test planning, before new models were implemented. A good agreement of the current model with experimental data for transient Fission Gas Release in the tests IFA-650.12 and IFA-650.14 is shown, as well.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.53 no.11
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• pp.3741-3758
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• 2021

Outcomes of the FALCON code analysis-related part of the STARS-ENSI Service Project on Evaluation of the new U.S.NRC RIA Fuel Safety Criteria and Application to the Swiss Reactors are presented. Substantial conservatism of the updated safety limits for high-temperature and PCMI cladding failure, as proposed in the NRC Regulatory Guide RG 1.236, is confirmed. Applicability of the updated failure limits to fuel safety analysis in the Swiss PWRs, as applied to standard fuel designs using UO2 fuel pellets and SRA Zry-4 as cladding materials is discussed. Conducting of new integral RIA tests with irradiated samples using doped- and gadolinia fuel pellets to support appropriate fuel safety criteria for RIA events is recommended.