| 1. |
- Drera, S. S., et al.
(författare)
-
Thorium fuel production and results from beginning of life irradiation
- 2014
-
Ingår i: Progress in Nuclear Energy. - : Elsevier BV. - 0149-1970. ; 72, s. 5-10
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- An evolutionary, rather than a revolutionary approach to thorium fueled reactors is proposed with an introduction of thorium as the fertile component in mixed oxide fuel for conventional light water reactors. The utility of thorium as a component in today's light water reactors offers improved accident tolerance due to the superior material properties of thorium fuels over conventional uranium fuels. A few notable advantages include better thermal conductivity, higher melting point, higher oxide stability and superior spent fuel characteristics. Consequently, Thor Energy along with a consortium of industrial partners has established a fuel production and irradiation program aimed to license thorium fuels for use in today's light water reactors: Due to the morphology and physical properties of calcined thorium oxide powder, pellet fabrication used for standard uranium oxide fuels must be altered slightly for thorium bearing fuels to yield a product with acceptable theoretical densities, microstructure, and material integrity. At beginning of irradiation life fuel temperature data demonstrates improved fuel characteristics over standard uranium oxide fuel. Fuel centerline operating temperatures are 30-40 K less with a thorium mixed oxide fuel as compared to standard uranium fuel. (c) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
|
|
| 2. |
- Insulander Björk, Klara L, 1982, et al.
(författare)
-
Commercial thorium fuel manufacture and irradiation: Testing (Th,Pu)O-2 and (Th,U)O-2 in the "Seven-Thirty" program
- 2015
-
Ingår i: Annals of Nuclear Energy. - : Elsevier BV. - 0306-4549 .- 1873-2100. ; 75, s. 79-86
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Thorium based fuels are being tested in the Halden Research Reactor in Norway with the aim of producing the data necessary for licensing of these fuels in today's light water reactors. The fuel types currently under irradiation are thorium oxide fuel with plutonium as the fissile component, and uranium fuel with thorium as an additive for enhancement of thermo-mechanical and neutronic fuel properties. Fuel temperatures, rod pressures and dimensional changes are monitored on-line for quantification of thermo-mechanical behavior and fission gas release. Preliminary irradiation results show benefits in terms of lower fuel temperatures, mainly caused by improved thermal conductivity of the thorium fuels. In parallel with the irradiation, a manufacturing procedure for thorium-plutonium mixed oxide fuel is developed with the aim to manufacture industrially relevant high-quality fuel pellets for the next phase of the irradiation campaign.
|
|
| 3. |
- Insulander Björk, Klara L, 1982, et al.
(författare)
-
Irradiation testing of enhanced uranium oxide fuels
- 2019
-
Ingår i: Annals of Nuclear Energy. - : Elsevier BV. - 0306-4549 .- 1873-2100. ; 125, s. 99-106
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Enhanced uranium oxide fuel types are being tested in the Halden Research Reactor in Norway with the aim is to assess the effect that these enhancements have on fuel performance. Fuel temperatures, rod pressures and dimensional changes are being monitored online and an extensive post-irradiation examination programme is planned. Preliminary data show that fuel centerline temperatures can be lowered by addition of ThO2 to the fuel matrix, or by incorporating Cr or SiO2-TiO2 as a network structure within the fuel. In parallel, two types of cladding coatings are tested in order to investigate their in-core properties. No abnormal behaviour has been noted during the first 100 days of irradiation.
|
|
