Development of thermodynamic databases in the system U–Zr–Ce–Cs–Fe–B–C–I–O–H for application to simulating phase equilibria in severe nuclear accidents

Abstract

ABSTRACTIn case of severe nuclear accidents involving melt down of nuclear fuels at high temperatures, it is of considerable importance to accurately evaluate the highly-volatizing behavior of fission products (FPs) over multicomponent debris. Particularly, cesium (Cs)- and iodine (I)- bearing chemical species are regarded as notable FPs. In the present work, the authors have generated original thermodynamic databases for the system U–Zr–Ce–Cs–Fe–B–C–I–O–H featuring Cs- as well as I-bearing subsystems, which are contained in oxide, iodide, and metal (including borides and carbides) sub-databases. It has been confirmed that the phase diagrams calculated by the present set of the databases reproduce the corresponding literature data well in various kinds of subsystems of the above multicomponent system. The present set of databases has subsequently been applied to simulate phase equilibria and volatizing behavior of Cs- and I-including species, respectively, in multicomponent debris under specific temperature and atmospheric conditions corresponding to severe nuclear accidents.