Experimental measurements to evaluate the effects of fuel microstructure on fission gas release in thoria. (February 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Barry, A.
• Is Part Of: Annals of nuclear energy. Volume 151(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-02
• Subjects: Thorium dioxide -- Thoria -- Fission gas release -- Irradiation -- Fuel performance -- Microstructure; Nuclear energy -- Periodicals; Nuclear engineering -- Periodicals; 621.4805
• DOI: 10.1016/j.anucene.2020.107933
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0306-4549

Abstract

Highlights: Post-irradiation examination results of thoria experiments are presented. Modern fuel fabrication techniques improve fuel microstructure. Improved fuel microstructure results in lower fission gas release. Abstract: Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL) has many decades of thoria research and development experience, including fabrication, irradiation testing, and post–irradiation examination. CNL has previously shown fission gas release (FGR) to be dependent on fuel microstructure in thoria fuels. Lower density fuel with large granules surrounded by porous regions results in higher FGR. Higher and more uniform density fuel results in superior FGR results in thoria fuels with a similar irradiation history. In this paper, this effect of fuel microstructure on FGR is shown empirically using the most recent post–irradiation examination (PIE) results of CNL's DME-176 and DME-221 thoria experiments. Previously reported PIE results of CNL's BDL-422 and DME-221 thoria experiments are also compared.