TRISO architecture for palladium and silicon carbide interaction mitigation
AssigneeUT-Battelle, LLC
InventorsTyler J. Gerczak, John D. Hunn, Richard A. Lowden
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Abstract
A TRISO architecture including an improved buffer layer is provided. The improved buffer layer contains sacrificial silicon in low density carbon to react with palladium released from the kernel and thereby limit the palladium available to react with the existing SiC layer. The introduction of silicon in the buffer layer allows for longer fuel lifetimes and/or higher operating temperatures. Higher achievable burnups and operational temperatures can reduce fuel costs and achieve higher efficient power production. In addition, the silicon-containing buffer layer mitigates fuel failure from palladium corrosion, thereby increasing the safety of the TRISO fuel particle.
Claims6
A method of manufacturing a fuel particle, the method comprising:
- forming a fuel kernel including uranium dioxide, uranium oxide, uranium carbide, or uranium nitride, such that the fuel kernel releases palladium fission products;
- forming a buffer layer surrounding the fuel kernel;
- forming a first pyrolytic carbon layer surrounding the buffer layer;
- forming a silicon carbide layer surrounding the first pyrolytic carbon layer;
- forming a second pyrolytic carbon layer surrounding the silicon carbide layer;
- wherein forming the buffer layer includes fluidizing the fuel kernel in a fluidized bed chemical vapor deposition chamber with a precursor gas mixture containing silane (SiH4), acetylene (C2H2), and a carrier gas, such that silicon from the silane and carbon from the acetylene are co-deposited onto the fuel kernel, the buffer layer having a density of 0.5 gm/cm3 to 1.5 g/cm3, wherein the silicon within the buffer layer reacts with the palladium fission products to limit the interaction of the palladium fission products with the silicon carbide layer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.