About this Abstract |
| Meeting |
TMS Specialty Congress 2026
|
| Symposium
|
Energy Materials 2026
|
| Presentation Title |
Understanding Changes in Constituent Redistribution in Uranium Zirconium Fuel Between Solid and Annular Fuel Geometries |
| Author(s) |
Michael R. Tonks, Yogesh Kumar, Vishal Yadav, Mary Meyer, Assel Aitkaliyeva |
| On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Michael R. Tonks |
| Abstract Scope |
Uranium zirconium is a popular fuel form for sodium-cooled fast reactors, including reactor designs being pursued by TerraPower and OKLO. One behavior that occurs in this metallic alloy fuel is the redistribution of Zr during reactor operation and resultant phase changes. These phase changes cause changes in the evolution (including fission gas bubble behavior) and properties (e.g., thermal conductivity) of the fuel. Recent experimental data has shown that the switching from a solid to an annular geometry can change the constituent redistribution and the resultant fission gas bubble behavior and thermal conductivity. In this work, we use a combination of experimental characterization and modeling and simulation to quantify the changes in behavior that result from the geometry change and to determine the mechanisms causing these changes. |
| Proceedings Inclusion? |
Undecided |