Fission-Product Behaviour During Irradiation of TRISO-Coated Particles in the HFREU1bis Experiment

Abstract

The irradiation experiment HFR-EU1bis, coordinated by the European Joint Research Centre – Institute for Energy, was performed in the High Flux Reator (HFR) at Petten to test five spherical HTR fuel pebbles of former German production with TRISO coated particles in conditions beyond the specifications of current HTR reactor designs (central temperature of 1250°C). In this paper, the behaviour of the fission products (FPs) and kernel micro-structure evolution during the test are investigated. While FP behaviour is a key issue for potential source term evaluation it also determines the evolution of the oxygen potential in the oxide kernel which in turn is important for formation of carbon oxides (amoeba effect and pressurization). Fission-gas release from the kernel can induce additional mechanical loading and finally some FPs (Ag, Cs, Sr) might alter the mechanical integrity of the coatings. This study is based on postirradiation examinations (ceramography + EPMA) performed both on UO2 kernels and on coatings. Significant evolutions of the kernel as a function of temperature are shown (grain structure, porosity, size of metallic inclusions). The quality of the ceramography results allows characteristics of the intergranular bubbles in the kernel (and estimation of swelling) to be determined. Remarkable results considering FP release from the kernel have been observed and will be presented. Examples are the significant release of Cs out of the kernel as well as Pd, whereas Zr remains trapped. Mo and Ru are mainly incorporated in metallic precipitates. These observations are interpreted and mechanisms for FP and micro-structural evolutions are proposed. These results are coupled to the results of calculations performed with the mechanistic code MFPR (Module for Fission Product Release) and the thermodynamic database MEPHISTA (Multiphase Equilibria in Fuels via Standard Thermodynamic Analysis). The effect of high flux rate and high temperature on fission gas behaviour, grain size evolution and kernel swelling are discussed. In addition, solid-FP behaviour (Cs, Mo, Zr, Ba, Sr) is discussed in connection with the evolution of kernel oxygen potential and evolution of the pressure of carbon oxides. The paper intends to be exemplary on how the combination of post-irradiation examination results and fuel modelling increases fundamentally the understanding of HTR fuel behaviour.