Quantitative and isotopic analysis of released and retained krypton and xenon fission gases from irradiated metallic fuels

Abstract

We quantitatively measured the amounts and isotopic distributions of the released and retained fission gases (Kr and Xe) from two irradiated metallic fuels (U–10Zr and U–10Zr–5Ce) at approximately 2.9 at.% burnup, using a gas chromatography and a quadrupole mass spectrometer. The obtained Xe/Kr ratios indicate that the released and retained fission gases from the irradiated metallic fuels came primarily from the fission of 235U, instead of that of heavy isotopes such as 239Pu and 241Pu. The calculated (83Kr + 84Kr)/86Kr and (131Xe + 132Xe)/134Xe ratios suggest that no fuel rods became defective during the irradiation process.