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In-pile thermal conductivity measurement method for nuclear fuels

  • B. Fox
  • , H. Ban
  • , J. L. Rempe
  • , J. E. Daw
  • , D. L. Knudson
  • , K. G. Condie

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

5 Scopus citations

Abstract

Thermophysical properties of advanced nuclear fuels and materials during irradiation must be known prior to their use in existing, advanced, or next generation reactors. Thermal conductivity is one of the most important properties for predicting fuel and material performance. A joint Utah State University (USU) / Idaho National Laboratory (INL) project, which is being conducted with assistance from the Institute for Energy Technology at the Norway Halden Reactor Project, is investigating in-pile fuel thermal conductivity measurement methods. This paper focuses on one of these methods-a multiple thermocouple method. This two-thermocouple method uses a surrogate fuel rod with Joule heating to simulate volumetric heat generation to gain insights about in-pile detection of thermal conductivity. Preliminary results indicated that this method can measure thermal conductivity over a specific temperature range. This paper reports the thermal conductivity values obtained by this technique and compares these values with thermal property data obtained from standard thermal property measurement techniques available at INL's High Test Temperature Laboratory. Experimental results and material properties data are also compared to finite element analysis results.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationProceedings of the 30th International Thermal Conductivity Conference and the 18th International Thermal Expansion Symposium, Thermal Conductivity 30/Thermal Expansion 18
Pages886-894
Number of pages9
StatePublished - 2010
Event30th International Thermal Conductivity Conference and the 18th International Thermal Expansion Symposium, Thermal Conductivity 30/Thermal Expansion 18 - Pittsburgh, PA, United States
Duration: Aug 29 2009Sep 2 2009

Publication series

NameProceedings of the 30th International Thermal Conductivity Conference and the 18th International Thermal Expansion Symposium, Thermal Conductivity 30/Thermal Expansion 18

Conference

Conference30th International Thermal Conductivity Conference and the 18th International Thermal Expansion Symposium, Thermal Conductivity 30/Thermal Expansion 18
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityPittsburgh, PA
Period08/29/0909/2/09

Keywords

  • In-pile instrumentation
  • Nuclear fuel thermal conductivity

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