Abstracts and Available Papers Presented at the
1998 International RERTR Meeting

LEU FUEL DEVELOPMENT AT CERCA
Status as of October 1998

by JP. DURAND - JC OTTONE -M. MAHE - G. FERRAZ

From cerca - ZI les Bérauds - 26104 ROMANS (FRANCE)

ABSTRACT

The aim of this paper is to detail the recent progress on both U₃Si₂ high loaded fuels and new g phase fuels. Concerning high density silicide plates up to 6 g Ut/cm³, the CEA irradiation programme is completed. Data are still under analysis but one can state that the behaviour was globaly similar to conventional fuels known in SILOE and OSIRIS reactors.

From the new Ug fuel point of view, after demonstration feasibility in 1997 of UMo thermally stable plates loaded up to 8.3 g Ut/cm³, cerca has analysed the technical ability of quality inspection means assuming that it is of an utmost interest for the insurance of a proper use of high performances fuel in reactors. There are mainly two differences between UMo fuels (and more generally g fuels) and conventional ones. Firstly, X ray diffraction analysis on the fuel powder are needed because the chemical analysis is not sufficient to characterise the g structure requested. Secondly, the physical limits of the Ultrasonic inspection have been reached due to transitory effect between the meat and the edges. Therefore this technic can’t be applied in the transitory areas. From that knowledge, the manufacture specifications for a plate dedicated to an irradiation plan can be discussed with a clearer view of the main differences with the U₃Si₂ fuel reference.