Project Details
Description
The objective of this proposed integrated research project (IRP) is to utilize the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Reactor (MITR) to study ATF (Accident Tolerant Fuel) Cladding performance under radiation in collaboration with leading institutions and all major US ATF vendors. MITR is a 6 MWth reactor that provides similar neutron and gamma flux levels and water flow rates as a commercial light water reactor (LWR). MITR features an existing in-pile high temperature (up to ~300o C) and high flow water loop with full chemistry control including oxygen, hydrogen and boron-levels. Since Pressurized Water Reactor (PWR) claddings are exposed to temperatures of up to 350o C, for this project, in-kind cost share from the proposing team is provided to procure a higher pressure and temperature autoclave that can provide a more prototypic hydrothermal corrosion environment. The existing autoclave will then be used for Boiling Water Reactor (BWR) irradiations as it meets the target cladding temperature range. Given that both autoclaves extend from bottom of the active core to well outside of the core (and radiation field), MITR provides capability to test cladding performance under (1) simultaneous Neutron and Gamma flux (in-core) (2) Mainly Gamma flux and its impact on radiolysis and electro-chemical potential (in upper reflector) (3) no radiation environment (above the reflector), in a single 10-week cycle. This capability will be leveraged for all the planned 7 cycles in the water loop under this IRP. For the comprehensive assessment of ATF performance, additional testing will be performed: (1) 2 MITR cycles where electrical heating is applied to the cladding will also be performed to study impact of heat flux on hydrothermal corrosion (2) the identical out-of-pile high flow heated cycle testing with and without presence of CRUD (3) low flow high temperature out-ofpile testing with and without loading (4) Insertion of pre-treated out-of-pile samples (e.g. with different CRUD loading or noble chemistry) for in-pile testing. The proposed sample matrix will be combined with state-of-art post-testing/irradiation examination by the core team, namely, Idaho National Laboratory (INL), MIT, University of Michigan (UM) and Pennsylvania State University (PSU) and will meet the overarching objective of understanding ATF cladding performance under radiation. The proposed PIE includes microscopy, thermal and mechanical characterization and corrosion (oxygen and hydrogen) measurements.
Status | Active |
---|---|
Effective start/end date | 1/1/22 → … |
Funding
- Nuclear Energy University Program: $5,000,000.00
Fingerprint
Explore the research topics touched on by this project. These labels are generated based on the underlying awards/grants. Together they form a unique fingerprint.