Speaker
Description
The Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute is developing micro-cell UO₂ pellets as a sintering material for accident-resistant nuclear fuel. Micro-cell sintered materials are composed of cell wall material formed by creating multiple membranes within the UO₂. The metal microcell sintered body improves the thermal conductivity of the UO₂ sintered body by connecting materials with high thermal conductivity, which reduces the nuclear fuel temperature and fission gas release, thereby improving the operating margin. The irradiation test in the frame of Halden Reactor Project was conducted on the IFA790 rig to verify the in-reactor performance of micro-cell pellet. This test is part of the ongoing International Thorium Consortium, which is led by Thor Energy of
Norway. The test began in December 2015 and concluded in February 2018, with an actual test duration of around 360 days and approximately 800 days of testing including downtime. The average burnup during the test was 16.2 MWd/kgU. Real-time measurement of the fuel centreline
temperature in the reactor confirmed that the micro cell pellet improved the thermal conductivity in the reactor. This study describes the results of the IFA 790 test and analyses these results using the FRAPCON code.
