Contact Author:
Mrs Svetlana Prokop'eva
kormilitsyna@niiar.ru
P:+7 84235 65537
F:+7 84235 35648
Dimitrovgrad-10, Ulyanovsk region 433510
Russia
EXPERIENCE AND OUTLOOK FOR DEVELOPMENT OF VIBROPACK OXIDE FUEL PINS FOR LIGHT WATER REACTORS
S.P. Prokop'eva (RIAR-Russia)
EXPERIENCE AND OUTLOOK FOR DEVELOPMENT OF VIBROPACK OXIDE FUEL PINS FOR LIGHT WATER REACTORS
Golovtchenko Yu.M., Mayorshin A.A., Shishalov O.V., Prokop'eva S.P.
Research Institute of Atomic Reactors, Dimitrovgrad, Russia
Features and regulations of the process operations on production and quality control of granulated oxide fuel as well as fabrication and quality control of vibropac granulated oxide fuel pins were studied during development and fabrication of BOR-60, BN-350 and BN-600 fuel pins.
As applied to VVER fuel pins it was necessary to solve a number of new problems related to design peculiarities and operation conditions of new fuel pins. The effects to be investigated for this purpose were as follows:
„X effects of special (dedicated) additives introduction into vibropac fuel column composition;
„X effects of fuel-Zr cladding thermal mechanical interaction in vibropac fuel pins under different
„X conditions, including cyclic changes of thermal loads and reduced pressure of under-cladding helium;
„X effects of corrosive interaction between vibropac fuel column and water of high parameters (T,P) in case of through cladding failure.
In report there is described the RIAR¡¦s experience of development, manufacturing, irradiation in a high-temperature water loop of MIR reactor the experimental fuel pins with vibropack MOX fuel with dedicated additives (PuO2, U, Gd).
Experience in development and investigations of vibropac oxide fuel pins for LWR gained at RIAR involves:
„X pyroelectrochemical and pyrohydrolysis of oxide fuel;
„X production of granulated oxide fuel suitable for vibropacking with additives of PuO2 (MOX) and other "dedicated" additives (U, Gd,Gd2O3);
„X vibropacking of granulated particles in claddings of real size;
„X irradiation of experimental fuel pins (Lcorc=135...1000mm) in research reactors under power cycling, up to Bmax=~60MWd/kg h.a.
„X cladding failure, etc.;
„X PIE of irradiated fuel pins, irradiated in MIR reactor up to Bmax=41MWd/kg h.a.
Analysis of the obtained results on each of considered trends of the carried out activities has not revealed technological, radiation-thermal and corrosion features, which prevent from achieving the set goal.
Results of the works testify to perspectivity of experimental fuel pins with vibropack MOX fuel for on achievement of irradiation up to Bmax=~70MWd/kg h.a.