Early-in-Life Performance of Short Rod Duplex Pellet Screening (D-1) Test (AWBA Development Program)

摘要

This report evaluates the early-in-life irradiation performance of the D-1 test. The D-1 test is a screening test of the duplex pellet prebreeder reactor fuel concept consisting of a cylindrical thoria pellet surrounded by an annulus containing urania enriched in uranium-235. The design of the test, which includes duplex pellet annuli of three different compositions (UO sub 2 , UO sub 2 -ZrO sub 2 , and UO sub 2 -ZrO sub 2 -CaO), is described and results of nondestructive and destructive examinations after operation at 13 to 15 kW/ft for 32.6 days are presented. It is concluded that there are no deficiencies in the early-in-life performance of the duplex pellets. The UO sub 2 -ZrO sub 2 annuli show greater densification than the other two fuel types; however, this does not result in detrimental performance. On the basis of these findings, test irradiation was continued. (ERA citation 08:002160)