About this Abstract |
Meeting |
2024 TMS Annual Meeting & Exhibition
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Symposium
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Accelerated Qualification of Nuclear Materials Integrating Experiments, Modeling, and Theories
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Presentation Title |
A Study in the Thermal Transport Properties Related to Microstructure of Irradiated Annular U-Zr Metallic Fuels |
Author(s) |
Cynthia Adkins, Daniele Salvato, Tiankai Yao, Luca Capriotti |
On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Cynthia Adkins |
Abstract Scope |
This study focuses on the thermal transport properties, specifically thermal conductivity and thermal diffusivity, of annular uranium-zirconium (U-Zr) metallic fuel as a sodium-free design for use in advanced reactors. The research aims to understand the correlation between microstructure and thermal conductivity, both on the macro and mesoscale, for pre- and post-irradiated U-10Zr alloy. Experimental data was collected on U-10Zr fuel elements irradiated in the Advanced Test Reactor using modulated thermoreflectance techniques. The results indicate a decrease in thermal diffusivity and thermal conductivity of irradiated U-10Zr compared to unirradiated samples. The thermal conductivity reduction ranges from 62-74% on the mesoscale. The microstructure analysis reveals concentric rings within the U-10Zr alloy, each exhibiting distinct phases and features. The study highlights that the thermal conductivity of individual phases, combined with volume of phase fractions and porosity, can be used to calculate the effective thermal conductivity of post-irradiated U-10Zr fuel. |
Proceedings Inclusion? |
Planned: |
Keywords |
Characterization, Nuclear Materials, |