Iodine and Cesium in Oxide Fuel Pellets and Zircaloy-4 Cladding of Irradiated Fuel Rods (LWBR Development Program)

摘要

Measurements of fission product iodine and cesium are reported for thoria and binary (ThO sub 2 --UO sub 2 ) fuels with various irradiation histories. These volatile fission products were measured on the cladding surface or in the fuel by using specially developed radiochemical techniques. The radiochemical iodine measurements are found to be in general agreement with a theoretical iodine release model for irradiated fuel. Microprobe examinations of irradiated fuel rod cladding sections show fission product cesium to be located preferentially at the pellet to pellet interface region. Fission product iodine was detected in the interface region of one sample but generally remained below the microprobe limit of detection. 18 figures, 7 tables. (ERA citation 04:040361)