Nuclear fuel pellet-cladding interaction test device and method modeling in-core reactor thermal conditions
AssigneeThe Babcock & Wilcox Company
InventorsThomas A. Thornton, William G. Pettus
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for testing characteristics of nuclear fuel pellet interaction with nuclear reactor fuel rod cladding whereby the temperature profile within a nuclear fuel rod is more closely modeled in the test device than in the prior art discloses the use of high frequency microwave radiation to heat the fuel pellets within the cladding and using the cladding itself as a waveguide. Sensors monitor various operating parameters and a water jacket cools the test cladding.
Claims24
A method of testing pellet-cladding interaction comprising:
- (1) inserting a plurality of fuel pellets into a length of fuel rod cladding;
- (2) connecting a source of microwave radiation to said fuel rod cladding;
- (3) generating microwave radiation having a frequency greater than about 16 GHz with an output power of greater than about 18 KW in said microwave source;
- (4) guiding said microwave radiation through a waveguide into said fuel pellets to heat said fuel pellets with a temperature profile analogous to that occurring in a nuclear reactor;
- and
- (5) monitoring the resulting pellet-cladding interactions.
An apparatus for testing pellet-cladding interaction comprising:
- (1) a length of fuel rod cladding;
- (2) a plurality of nuclear fuel pellets inserted into said fuel rod cladding;
- (3) means for cooling said fuel rod cladding attached to said fuel rod cladding;
- (4) means for guiding microwave radiation into one end of said fuel rod cladding, connected to said fuel rod cladding;
- (5) means for generating microwaves attached to said guiding means comprising a gyrotron producing microwaves having a frequency greater than about 16 GHz with an output power of greater than about 18 KW.;
- and a reflector attached to the other end of said fuel rod cladding.
An apparatus for testing pellet-cladding interaction comprising:
- (1) a length of fuel rod cladding;
- (2) a plurality of nuclear fuel pellets inserted into said fuel rod cladding;
- (3) means for cooling said fuel rod cladding attached to said fuel rod cladding;
- (4) means for guiding microwave radiation into each end of said fuel rod cladding;
- and
- (5) means for generating microwaves attached to said guiding means comprising a gyrotron producing microwaves having a frequency greater than about 16 GHz with an output power of greater than about 18 KW.
An apparatus for testing pellet-cladding interaction comprising:
- (1) a length of fuel rod cladding on the order of 3.5 inches to 12 inches long having an inside diameter on the order of from about 0.25 inches to about 0.55 inches;
- (2) a plurality of fuel pellets forming a fuel column inserted into said fuel rod cladding;
- (3) means for cooling said fuel rod cladding attached to said fuel rod cladding;
- (4) means for guiding microwave radiation into each end of said fuel rod cladding, connected to each respective said end;
- (5) separate means for generating microwaves comprising gyrotrons each producing microwaves having a frequency greater than about 16 GH.sub.z with an output power of greater than about 18 KW, attached to said respective waveguides.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.