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Conference Article: Head-end processing of HTR fuel elements

Kaiser, G. (Kernforschungsanlage Juelich GmbH, Projektleitung Hochtemperaturreaktor-Brennstoffkreislauf, Juelich (Germany)); Barnert-Wiemer, H.; Hoogen, N. (Kernforschungsanlage Juelich GmbH, Institut fuer Chemische Technologie der Nuklearen Entsorgung, Juelich (Germany)); Wolf, J. (Kernforschungsanlage Juelich GmbH, Projektgruppe JUPITER, Juelich (Germany))

Abstract

Fuel elements for High Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactors of the Federal Republic of Germany consist of coated fuel particles embedded in a 6 cm diameter graphite sphere. Whereas the 15 MWe experimental power plant AVR mainly is and the 300 MWe prototype plant THTR will be operated with High Enriched Uranium/ Thorium (HEU) fuel, a Low Enriched Uranium (LEU) fuel cycle was chosen for THTR follow-on plants. The fuel of these reactors will therefore be composed of uranium oxide only with an enrichment in the order of 10%. To reduce fission product release during operation to a very low level, a so-called TRISO coating consisting of two coating layers of PyC with a SiC sandwich coating in-between will be applied to the fuel kernels.

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key words: Gas Cooled Reactor, Nuclear Technology
Reference:
Specialists' meeting on gas-cooled reactor fuel development and spent fuel treatment Moscow (Russian Federation) 18-21 Oct 1983
International Atomic Energy Agency, International Working Group on Gas-Cooled Reactors, Vienna (Austria); State Committee on the Utilisation of Atomic Energy of the USSR, Moscow (Russian Federation)
IWGGCR--8, pp:357-368