Irradiation effects on actinide containing U-Pu-Zr metallic fuels at several burnups

A worldwide objective in nuclear energy industry is the reduction of long-lived radio toxicity and high level waste1-4. Advanced nuclear designs are based on recycling Pu and U from spent fuel of light water reactors and separation of long-lived Minor Actinides (MA). These last can be then incorporated in new fuel and burnt (transmutated) in fast reactors closing in this way the nuclear fuel cycle5-7. Metal alloys beside oxides, nitrides and carbides are considered as candidates for fast reactor fuel, because of their high fissile density, good compatibility with sodium and low smear density, permitting thus very high burn ups8-9. The METAPHIX programme is being conducted as collaboration between the Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry (CRIEPI, Japan) and the Institute for Transuranium Elements (ITU, a Joint Research Centre of the European Commission). Its goal is the study of the U-Pu-Zr metallic fuel, both base composition and doped with MA and Rare Earths (RE). This paper presents some recent results of the post irradiation examinations and compares fuel properties at 3 different burnup levels.

PAPAIOANNOU Dimitrios;  RONDINELLA Vincenzo;  OHTA Hirokazu;  OGATA T;  NASYROW Ramil;  NIAGOLOVA Nedialka Dimitrova; 

2013-03-26

American Nuclear Society

JRC68652

0003-018x,   

https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC68652,