Abstracts and Available Papers Presented at the
1996 International RERTR Meeting

RELATIVE NEUTRONIC PERFORMANCE OF PROPOSED
HIGH-DENSITY DISPERSION FUELS IN WATER-MODERATED
AND D₂O-REFLECTED RESEARCH REACTORS

M.M. Bretscher, J.E. Matos, and J.L. Snelgrove

Argonne National Laboratory
9700 South Cass Avenue
Argonne, Illinois 60439-4841 USA

ABSTRACT

This paper provides an overview of the neutronic performance of an idealized research reactor using several high-density LEU dispersion fuels that are being developed by the RERTR program. High-density LEU dispersion fuels are needed for new and existing high-performance research reactors and to extend the lifetime of fuel elements in other research reactors. This paper discusses the anticipated neutronic behavior of proposed advanced fuels containing dispersions of U₃Si₂, UN, U₂Mo and several uranium alloys with Mo, or Zr and Nb. These advanced fuels are ranked based on the results of equilibrium depletion calculations for a simplified reactor model having a small H₂O-cooled core and a D₂O reflector. Plans have been developed to fabricate and irradiate several uranium alloy dispersion fuels in order to test their stability and compatibility with the matrix material and to establish practical loading limits.