Thermophysical properties of modified oxide nuclear fuel

• Published in: Atomic energy (New York, N.Y.) Vol. 110; no. 1; pp. 45 - 50
• Main Authors: Baranov, V. G., Pokrovskii, S. A., Tenishev, A. V., Khlunov, A. V., Mikheev, E. N., Fedotov, A. V.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Boston Springer US 01-05-2011; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Aluminum; Analysis; Dependence; Expansion; Gadolinium; Gadolinium oxide; Grain size; Hadrons; Heat conductivity; Heavy Ions; Niobium; Nuclear Chemistry; Nuclear Energy; Nuclear fuels; Nuclear industry; Nuclear Physics; Particle size; Physics; Physics and Astronomy; Point defects; Rare earth metals; Studies; Temperature; Thermal diffusivity; Thermal energy; Thermal expansion; Thermal properties; Toy industry; Uranium; Specific Heat Capacity; Fuel Element; Phonon Scattering; Thermal Diffusivity; Uranium Dioxide
• ISSN: 1063-4258; 1573-8205
• DOI: 10.1007/s10512-011-9389-1

In connection with the need for using modified oxide nuclear fuel in VVER, the thermophysical characteristics of alloyed pellets have been measured in the interval 723–1873 K. It is established that the introduction of microquantities of Fe
2
O
3
, FeO, SiO
2
, Al
2
O
3
, and Nb
2
O
5
made it possible to increase the uranium dioxide grain size to 25 μm and larger. The grain size of the pellets with additives of gadolinium oxide is about 10 μm. It is established that the introduction of alloying elements decreases the thermal diffusivity of uranium dioxide in the entire temperature range; in addition, gadolinium oxide has a greater effect than iron, aluminum, silicon, and niobium oxides. Dilatometric studies of uranium dioxide showed that between alloyed and pure samples the thermal expansion differs by no more than 10%.