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Conference Article: Reactor tests and post-reactor examination of HTGR fuel elements and coated particles

Degaltsev, Yu.G.; Khrulev, A.A.; Mosevitskii, I.S.; Ponomarev-Stepnoi, N.N.; Tikhonov, N.I.; Yakovlev, V.V. (I.V. Kurchatov Institute of Atomic Energy, Moscow (USSR))

Abstract

Tests and examinations of HTGR fuel elements performed recently at I.V.Kurchatov AHI have been directed to solve the following problems: determination of correspondence of the operability characteristics of fuel elements and coated particles from different lots to requirements to be imposed on VGM and VG-400 designs being developed; - comparison of the characteristics of fuel elements manufactured using two different technologies of matrix graphite (KPD and GE@>*) as well as coated particles of various designs and material composition; - investigation of fuel element operability under severe accident conditions; - investigation of processes occuring in fuel element and coated particle, resulting in formation of defects and release of GFP; construction of physical models of fuel element behaviour in the reactor on this basis. *I KPD -carbonization under pressure GSP -graphite bounded with pyrocarbon

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key words: coated fuel particles; fuel element failure; fuel elements; htgr type reactors; mixed carbide fuels; performance testing; reactor safety; risk assessment; russian organizations
Reference:
Technical committee meeting on gas-cooled reactor technology safety and siting Dimitrovgrad (Russian Federation) 21-23 Jun 1989
International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna (Austria)
IAEA-TC--389.26, pp:693-710