Multiphysics fuel performance modeling of dispersed TRISO-coated particle fuel plate under long-time normal condition and accident conditions

Abstract

TRISO-coated nuclear fuel has been extensively studied these decades due to the reliable accident tolerance performance. Based on the ABAQUS implicit finite element solver, the thermal–mechanical coupled simulations of the TRISO-particles embedded plate fuel were carried out. Multi-physical effects were incorporated into the simulation, including the plastic deformation, irradiation swelling, creep and gap heat transfer. Results show that the dispersed TRISO-coated particle fuel plate has robust thermal–mechanical performance under long-time normal condition. The maximum fuel temperature is 668 K and the cumulative failure probability for the SiC layer is 1.85 × 10−4. Under reactivity insertion accident and loss of coolant accident conditions, this fuel has reliable anti-accident capacities due to TRISO layer’s protection. Additionally, the porosity effect on thermomechanical performance of this fuel was analyzed.