PCI analysis of Zircaloy coated clad under LWR steady state and reactor startup operations using BISON fuel performance code

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Research following the earthquake and subsequent tsunami that devastated the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, causing severe damage to the reactor cores, has led to the development of accident tolerant fuel designs. Accident tolerant fuels are described as a fuel form which exhibits improved material response, when compared to traditional uranium dioxide fuel clad by a zirconium alloy, during accident (e.g., loss of coolant accident or reactivity insertion accident) while maintaining or exceeding normal reactor operational expectations. One of the primary goals of accident tolerant fuel concepts is to reduce cladding corrosion by either replacing traditional Zircaloy cladding with a new material or by applying a coating to the outer surface of the cladding with enhanced resistance to corrosion at high temperatures. However, while coating the clad may provide an increase in high temperature corrosion resistance, it also changes the mechanical state of the cladding and potentially creates alternate failure mechanisms during reactor operations or accident conditions. This research has primarily focused on the pellet-cladding interactionmechanical response of FeCrAl (Iron-Chromium-Aluminum alloy) coated cladding during light water reactor steady state and reactor startup operations. Using the MOOSE-based, finite-element fuel performance code BISON and commercial pressurized water reactor data obtained from Diablo Canyon Unit 2, a preliminary analysis was performed to evaluate the performance of FeCrAl coated cladding under steady state operation and its mechanical stability under pellet-cladding interaction during a reactor startup. This work summarizes BISON 2-D radial-axially symmetric (R-Z) and radial-circumferentially symmetric (R-θ) simulation results by comparing 20, 50, and 100-µm FeCrAl coating thicknesses as well as FeCrAl cladding to traditional Zr-4 cladding under pellet-cladding interaction condition. The results of this study will provide a feasibility analysis for steady state and transient operational response of FeCrAl coated, Zircaloy cladding. Furthermore, this work will provide a fundamental basis for the assessment of the ability of coated cladding, as an ATF candidate, to maintain or exceed current steady state reactor operating expectations.