LAPSE:2023.31319
Published Article
LAPSE:2023.31319
Optimization of Conductive Fins to Minimize UO2 Fuel Temperature and Radial Temperature Gradient
Kyle M. Paaren, Pavel Medvedev, Robert Mariani
April 18, 2023
To further the development of low-enriched uranium fuels, precedence has been placed on delivering the same amount of power while lowering the fuel temperature and radial temperature gradient. To address this, modeling efforts have resulted in a novel design featuring conductive fins of varying thermal conductivities and geometries inserted into the fuel matrix. These conductive inserts were not allowed to exceed 6% of the original fuel volume. This constraint was imposed due to other designs displacing 10% of fuel volume. A parametric study was performed that consisted of 2.56 million BISON simulations involving varying fin characteristics (i.e., fin thermal conductivity, number, and geometry) to determine the optimal geometric configuration for a desired amount of fuel volume displaced. The results from this study show that the thickness and length of each fin affect the fuel temperature and temperature gradient more than varying the number and thermal conductivity of the fins. The parametric study resulted in the development of an optimized combination to produce the lowest peak fuel temperature, lowest radial temperature gradient, and highest temperature reduction for the amount of original fuel volume displaced. The simulations presented in this work will eventually be compared with irradiation experiments of similar fuel designs at Idaho National Laboratory’s Advanced Test Reactor.
Keywords
BISON, finite element methods, fuel performance, Simulation, UO2
Suggested Citation
Paaren KM, Medvedev P, Mariani R. Optimization of Conductive Fins to Minimize UO2 Fuel Temperature and Radial Temperature Gradient. (2023). LAPSE:2023.31319
Author Affiliations
Paaren KM: Idaho National Laboratory, 2525 Fremont Ave., Idaho Falls, ID 83415, USA
Medvedev P: Idaho National Laboratory, 2525 Fremont Ave., Idaho Falls, ID 83415, USA
Mariani R: Idaho National Laboratory, 2525 Fremont Ave., Idaho Falls, ID 83415, USA
Journal Name
Energies
Volume
16
Issue
6
First Page
2785
Year
2023
Publication Date
2023-03-17
Published Version
ISSN
1996-1073
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Original Submission
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PII: en16062785, Publication Type: Journal Article
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LAPSE:2023.31319
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doi:10.3390/en16062785
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Apr 18, 2023
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