Irradiation performance of PFBR MOX fuel after 112GWd/t burn-up

Dimensional measurements on 112GWd/t irradiated MOX fuel pins using X-ray radiography

“…The corresponding maximum and minimum percentage of increase in fuel stack length with respect to the preirradiated conditions were 1.3% and 0.2%, respectively. The fuelstack length measurement made on these fuel pins by neutron radiography and gamma scanning methods showed an average stack length increase of 1.3% and 1.2%, respectively (Venkiteswaran and et al, 2014). The lower volumetric fuel swelling is attributed to the combination of various factors such as low fuel smear density (76% of theoretical density), release of volatile fission products and high fission gas release in MOX fuel at this burn-up level (Venkiteswaran and et al, 2014;Maeda et al, 2005).…”

“…2(b)). The non-closure of pellet-to-clad gap was attributed to the low fuel swelling rate due to high fission gas release and densification of the fuel pellets in the bottom regions of fuel columns where the LHR is higher than 350 W/cm (Venkiteswaran and et al, 2014). Fig.…”

“…Uranium-Plutonium mixed oxide fuel (MOX) is used in prototype fast breeder reactor (PFBR), which is in advanced stages of construction (Grover and Chandra, 2006). MOX is chosen as a driver fuel for SFRs due to its excellent burn-up potential, high melting point, ease of pellet fabrication and reprocessing (Douglas et al, 2009;Venkiteswaran and et al, 2014). High fuel burn-up is essential for reducing fuel cycle cost and subsequent commercialization of fast breeder reactors.…”