The UZrHx alloy: Its properties and use in TRIGA fuel

Use of Solid Hydride Fuel for Improved long-Life LWR Core Designs

“…The primary hydride fuel considering in this project is uranium-zirconium hydride similar to that developed by General Atomics (GA) for TRIGA reactors (Simnad, 1981).…”

“…The U-Zr hydride composition used for the TRIGA fuel has, typically, 1.6 hydrogen atoms per Zr atom, i.e., it is U-ZrH 1.6 (Simnad, 1981). This corresponds to U/Zr atom ratio of 0.31.…”

“…The "default" approach is to use SS clad. Experiments done at General Atomics with hydride fuel proved that (Simnad, 1981) "high-temperature strength and ductility of the stainless steel or Alloy 800 fuel cladding provides total clad integrity at temperatures as high as 950°C".…”

Feasibility Study of Supercritical Light Water Cooled Fast Reactors for Actinide Burning and Electric Power Production, 3rd Quarterly Report

“…Furthermore, a thorough investigation of zirconium hydride was performed for application as a moderator in a maritime carbon-dioxide-cooled reactor using a closed-cycle gas turbine [Mueller 1968a]. However, perhaps most importantly, a dispersion of enriched uranium in a matrix of zirconium hydride has been developed and used as the fuel for the General Atomics TRIGA research reactor (a mature and popular product worldwide) for over 40 years [Simnad 1981]. Therefore, considerable information on the thermodynamic, transport, mechanical, and irradiation properties of zirconium hydride is available in the literature.…”

Enhancement of Transmutation of Minor Actinides by Hydride Target

“…Hydride fuels have been used in TRIGA reactors of General Atomics (GA) for many years [6]. On the other hand, hydride materials do not have much history of use in FBRs.…”