A Technical Description of the NRC Long-Term Whole Rod and Crud Performance Test.

摘要

Westinghouse Hanford Company (WHC) and EG&G-Idaho are jointly conducting a long-term low-temperature spent fuel whole rod and crud behavior test to provide the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) with information to assist in the licensing of light water reactor (LWR) spent fuel dry storage facilities. Readily available fuel rods from an H. B. Robinson (PWR) fuel assembly and a Peach Bottom 2 (BWR) fuel assembly were selected for use in the 50 month test. Both intact and defected rods will be tested in inert and oxidizing atmospheres. A 230C test temperature was selected for the first 10 month run. Both nondestructive and destructive exams are planned to characterize the fuel rod behavior during the five year test. Four interim exams and a final exam will be conducted. Crud spallation behavior will be investigated by sampling the crud particulate from the test capsule at each of the four interim exams and at the end of the test. The background to whole rod testing, description of rod breach mechanisms, along with a detailed description of the test, are presented in this document.