About this Abstract |
| Meeting |
Materials in Nuclear Energy Systems (MiNES) 2025
|
| Symposium
|
Materials in Nuclear Energy Systems (MiNES) 2025
|
| Presentation Title |
A Survey of the Microstructures Observed From MiniFuel Irradiations With Comparisons to Prototypic Irradiated Fuel Microstructures |
| Author(s) |
Jason Harp, Denise Adorno Lopes, Casey S. McKinney, Martino R. Hooghkirk, Tyson L Jordan, Annabelle G Le Coq, William F. Cureton |
| On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Jason Harp |
| Abstract Scope |
The MiniFuel Irradiation vehicle has been used to successfully test a wide range of nuclear fuel forms since the first post-irradiation examination was initiated in 2019. Fuel that is irradiated in the MiniFuel vehicle experiences accelerated burnup accumulation or fission density accumulation compared to what most fuel would experience under in-reactor conditions. This allows researchers to screen novel fuel forms or incremental changes in know fuel prior to larger scale integral testing. This paper intends to survey the microstructure of the many different fuels irradiated to date and when possible provide comparisons to microstructural examinations performed on similar fuel irradiated at prototypic conditions. Uranium nitride kernels and uranium nitride TRISO particles irradiated in several MiniFuel campaigns are examples of exploratory irradiations in MiniFuel. However, the microstructures observed from these irradiations can be compared to other TRISO fuel and some historic mixed nitride irradiations. Direct comparisons between uranium oxide irradiated in MiniFuel and the different microstructures observed radially in LWR uranium oxide fuel pellets. This is also true for doped uranium oxide variants. Targeted MiniFuel irradiations have recreated specific radial microstructures seen in LWR fuel. An example of this will be discussed. The potential to create specific irradiated fuel microstructures for targeted study independent of integral irradiations will also be discussed. |
| Proceedings Inclusion? |
Undecided |