HTGR Knowledge Base

Conference Article: TIMCOAT: An Integrated Fuel Performancemodel For Coated Particle Fuel

Abstract

An integrated fuel performance model for coated particle fuel has been developed to comprehensively study the behavior of TRISO coated fuel. Modeling of both pebble bed and prismatic configurations is possible. In the case of the pebble bed concept, refueling of pebbles is simulated to account for the nonuniform environment in the reactor core and history-dependent particle behavior. Monte Carlo sampling of particles is employed in fuel failure prediction to capture the statistical features of dimensions, material properties, and in the case of the pebble bed concept, the statistical nature of the refueling process. An advanced fuel failure model has been developed based on a probabilistic fracture mechanics approach. The mechanical analysis includes effects of anisotropic irradiation-induced dimensional changes and isotropic irradiation-induced creep, and fluence dependent Poisson’s ratio in irradiation creep. The stress analysis is benchmarked against the calculations on Japanese High Temperature Test Reactor (HTTR) first-loading fuel and finite element result on one case performed by Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory (INEEL). The failure model predictions are compared with NPR1, NPR2, and NPR1A capsule irradiation data. The model results compare very favorably with PIE results both in terms of failure probability, number of failed particles and Kr85m R/B evolution during irradiation.

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Reference:

Proceedings of the Conference on High Temperature Reactors, Beijing, China, September, 22-24, 2004

International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna (Austria)

HTR-2004, pp:1-45