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Conference Article: Testing of irradiated spherical fuel elements at HTR MODUL relevant accident conditions.

Schenk, W.; Nabielek, H. (Forschungszentrum Juelich GmbH, Juelich (Germany). Inst. fuer Reaktorwerkstoffe und HTA-Projekt)

Abstract

It is reported that the German 200 MWth MODUL HTR uses spherical fuel elements having 10% enriched UO2 TRISO coated particles. Since 1984 the behavior of such elements of modern design under accident conditions has been studied at the Research Centre Juelich, FRG. By help of the Cold Finger Apparatus even the smallest release of fission products during testing up to 1800 deg. C can be analysed. Post heating examinations allowed important correlations between the distribution within the fuel element and the measured sphere release. The results of heating tests are described. Further work was carried out to simulate water and air ingress in a HTR. AN apparatus was built and is now commissioned. Tests with special samples and fuel spheres, and also with USA fuel are planned, to examine the influence of humidity on the fission product release.

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key words: Gas Cooled Reactor, Nuclear Technology
Reference:
Behaviour of gas cooled reactor fuel under accident conditions. Proceedings of a specialists meeting held in Oak Ridge, 5-8 November 1990
International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna (Austria). International Working Group on Gas-Cooled Reactors
IWGGCR--25, pp:87-98