Enhanced Accident Tolerant Fuel at Dr. Elmar Schweitzer, Dr. Jeremy Bischoff COP23, Bonn, 11/08/2017
Why Develop eatf Solutions? Zr alloy eatf solution p.2
eatf Program u Evolutionary Concept (Near-term solution) Cr-coated Zr cladding + Cr 2 O 3 -doped UO 2 fuel u Revolutionary Concept (Long-term solution) SiC f /SiC cladding Multi-layer composite cladding with a metallic liner to ensure the leak-tightness Cr-coating provides significant reduction in HT steam oxidation Cr 2 O 3 -doped fuel shows high fission gas retention in transient conditions - Very low oxidation kinetics in HT steam - High strength at high temperature - High melting temperature p.3
Description of s Near-Term eatf Fuel Rod Concept Cr-Coated Zr Cladding Cr 2 O 3 -doped UO 2 Fuel Large Grain Microstructure Thin coating (5-20µm) Dense coating 100µm Enhanced viscoplasticity No modification of the underlying Zr substrate microstructure p.4
Normal Operation: Benefits of Cr-Coated Cladding with Cr 2 O 3 -doped UO 2 Fuel Cr-Coated Cladding FGR (Rod Pressure) Improved PCI Behavior Cr 2 O 3 -doped UO 2 Fuel Corrosion + H Pickup Increased Fuel Density Fuel Failures Increased Fuel Utilization Increased Margins p.5 Cladding Wear Provides: - RELIABILITY - FLEXIBLE OPERATION - ECONOMIC BENEFITS Chipping
Accidental Conditions: Benefits of Cr-Coated Cladding with Cr 2 O 3 -doped UO 2 Fuel Cr-Coated Cladding HT Steam Oxidation HT Creep & Ballooning FGR (Rod Pressure) Cr 2 O 3 -doped UO 2 Fuel Increased Post-Quench Ductility Heat and H 2 Production Improved Coolable Geometry Release of Radionuclides Fuel Fragmentation Increased: - COPING TIME - MARGINS - SAFETY p.6
Licensing and Performance Confirmation Performance Data Licensing Confirmation Reactor Sample Type PIE Timeline OSIRIS - CEA IMAGO - Commercial Reactor (Europe) Cr-coated tubes and flat specimens Cr-coated tubes, flat specimens, strained samples Coating performance, adherence Corrosion kinetics, coating performance, mechanical properties, microstructural eval 2015-2018 2016-2019 2019-2022 Commercial Reactor (US) Lead Fuel Rods Cr 2 O 3 -doped pellets Pool side examination 2017 HALDEN - Norway Cr-coated rodlets with UO 2 pellets Coating performance, pellet-clad interaction 2017-2021 ATR - INL Cr-coated rodlets with Cr 2 O 3 -doped pellets Microstructural evaluation, oxidation, hydrogen pickup, coating performance 2017-2021 p.7
The road towards eatf 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 IMAGO 2016 Irradiation of Material Test Samples + PIE LTR programs Irradiation of lead test rods + PIE LTA programs (planned) commercial eatf FA Base M5 Cladding Chromia-doped UO 2 pellets Cr-coating p.8
Excellent Behavior of Cr-coated Cladding after 1 Cycle of Irradiation IMAGO irradiation project (European PWR) u First irradiation of ATF materials in a commercial PWR Slight golden color = very thin oxide layer (<1µm) Uncoated segment Cr-coated segment Smooth transition coated - uncoated No delamination = very adherent coating Excellent behavior of Cr-coated cladding Important input data to support lead fuel rod justification p.9
Fabrication of Full-Length PVD Prototype Machine to Manufacture LFR Cladding Lab Scale Feasibility Full-Length Feasibility Industrial Scale Production Goals: p.10 u Demonstrate feasibility of full-length Cr deposition by Physical vapor deposition u Produce Cr-coated cladding for lead fuel rods Full-length Cr-coated cladding fabrication on track for lead fuel rod insertion in 2019 Fabrication of 6m long prototype completed Start-up and first tube production on-going
is fast-tracking the implementation of its near-term eatf solution: u Cr-coated Zr cladding + Cr 2 O 3 -doped UO 2 fuel Take Away Message First commercial irradiation feedback OK Full-length coating prototype completed LFR insertion 2019 p.11
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