Abstract
The dominant factor of mechanical energy generation during high burnup fuel failure under reactivity initiated accident (RIA) conditions is discussed on the basis of results from recent two RIA-simulating tests with burnup fuel rods and separate-effect tests with powder fuels. When cladding failed during the RIA conditions, solid fuel fragments were dispersed into the coolant water. The results from the recent two burnup fuel experiments indicated that the dominant factor of mechanical energy generation was thermal interaction of dispersed fuel fragments with the coolant water. To eliminate the effect of gas release from the fuel rod, and to evaluate the potential of the thermal interaction, powder fuel experiments were also performed as separate-effect tests. The results showed consistency in the mechanical energy generation process between the burnup fuel experiments and the powder fuel experiments. Accordingly, thermal interaction should be the dominant factor of the mechanical energy generation. Concerning the conversion ratio from thermal to mechanical energy, the finer fuel particles generated more mechanical energy at the same energy deposition level.
Published Version
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