| About this Abstract |
| Meeting |
2022 TMS Annual Meeting & Exhibition
|
| Symposium
|
Advanced Characterization and Modeling of Nuclear Fuels: Microstructure, Thermo-physical Properties
|
| Presentation Title |
N-7: Investigation of the Impact the 3D Fission Product Structure has on the Local Thermal Conductivity in FBR MOX Fuel |
| Author(s) |
Casey S. McKinney, Tsvetoslav Pavlov, Assel Aitkaliyeva |
| On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Casey S. McKinney |
| Abstract Scope |
Large thermal gradients across the radius of fast breeder reactor (FBR) mixed oxide (MOX) fuel pellets generate regional microstructures with varied solid and gaseous fission product structures. These fission products have different individual thermal conductivities that can be higher or lower than the fuel matrix. Understanding how each one affects the local thermal conductivity of the fuel is vital as the potential generation of hot spots due to these products could lead to fuel failure. In this work, 3D reconstructions of the fission product structure are used to predict the local thermal conductivity of different regions on a MOX fuel pellet. The predicted local thermal conductivities will be complemented by regional measurements of thermal conductivity by a thermal conductivity microscope (TCM). Analyzing the predicted and experimentally measured thermal conductivities with respect to the local fission product structure will elucidate the impact the fission products have on the thermal conductivity. |
| Proceedings Inclusion? |
Planned: |
| Keywords |
Nuclear Materials, Characterization, |