Temperature and Burnup Correlated FCCI in U-10Zr Metallic Fuel

Abstract

Metallic fuels are proposed for use in advanced sodium cooled fast reactors and provide a number of advantages over other fuel types considering their fabricability, performance, recyclability, and safety. Resistance to cladding "breach" and subsequent release of fission products and fuel constituents to the nuclear power plant primary coolant system is a key performance parameter for a nuclear fuel system. In metallic fuel, FCCI weakens the cladding, especially at high power-high temperature operation, contributing to This work would not be possible had it not been for the many scientists and engineers responsible for metallic fuel development initiated in the EBR-II and FFTF reactors. These experiments are an invaluable national resource, some of which we are only now beginning to be analyzed. Many of the people responsible have passed on or have retired but their legacy and contributions will be remembered.