Assessment of INSPYRE-extended fuel performance codes against the SUPERFACT-1 fast reactor irradiation experiment

L. Luzzi; T. Barani; B. Boer; A. Del Nevo; M. Lainet; S. Lemehov; A. Magni; V. Marelle; B. Michel; D. Pizzocri; A. Schubert; P. Van Uffelen; M. Bertolus

Nuclear Engineering and Technology (Mar 2023)

Assessment of INSPYRE-extended fuel performance codes against the SUPERFACT-1 fast reactor irradiation experiment

L. Luzzi,
T. Barani,
B. Boer,
A. Del Nevo,
M. Lainet,
S. Lemehov,
A. Magni,
V. Marelle,
B. Michel,
D. Pizzocri,
A. Schubert,
P. Van Uffelen,
M. Bertolus

Affiliations

L. Luzzi: Politecnico di Milano, Department of Energy, Nuclear Engineering Division, Via La Masa 34, 20156, Milano, Italy; Corresponding author.
T. Barani: Politecnico di Milano, Department of Energy, Nuclear Engineering Division, Via La Masa 34, 20156, Milano, Italy
B. Boer: Belgian Nuclear Research Centre SCK·CEN, Boeretang 200, 2400, Mol, Belgium
A. Del Nevo: ENEA, FSN-ING-SIS, CR Brasimone, 40032, Camugnano (BO), Italy
M. Lainet: Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives, CEA DEC/SESC, 13108 St. Paul Lez Durance, France
S. Lemehov: Belgian Nuclear Research Centre SCK·CEN, Boeretang 200, 2400, Mol, Belgium
A. Magni: Politecnico di Milano, Department of Energy, Nuclear Engineering Division, Via La Masa 34, 20156, Milano, Italy
V. Marelle: Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives, CEA DEC/SESC, 13108 St. Paul Lez Durance, France
B. Michel: Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives, CEA DEC/SESC, 13108 St. Paul Lez Durance, France
D. Pizzocri: Politecnico di Milano, Department of Energy, Nuclear Engineering Division, Via La Masa 34, 20156, Milano, Italy
A. Schubert: European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Directorate for Nuclear Safety and Security, P.O. Box 2340, 76125, Karlsruhe, Germany
P. Van Uffelen: European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Directorate for Nuclear Safety and Security, P.O. Box 2340, 76125, Karlsruhe, Germany
M. Bertolus: Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives, CEA DEC/SESC, 13108 St. Paul Lez Durance, France

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 55, no. 3
pp. 884 – 894

Abstract

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Design and safety assessment of fuel pins for application in innovative Generation IV fast reactors calls for a dedicated nuclear fuel modelling and for the extension of the fuel performance code capabilities to the envisaged materials and irradiation conditions. In the INSPYRE Project, comprehensive and physics-based models for the thermal-mechanical properties of U–Pu mixed-oxide (MOX) fuels and for fission gas behaviour were developed and implemented in the European fuel performance codes GERMINAL, MACROS and TRANSURANUS. As a follow-up to the assessment of the reference code versions (“pre-INSPYRE”, NET 53 (2021) 3367–3378), this work presents the integral validation and benchmark of the code versions extended in INSPYRE (“post-INSPYRE”) against two pins from the SUPERFACT-1 fast reactor irradiation experiment. The post-INSPYRE simulation results are compared to the available integral and local data from post-irradiation examinations, and benchmarked on the evolution during irradiation of quantities of engineering interest (e.g., fuel central temperature, fission gas release). The comparison with the pre-INSPYRE results is reported to evaluate the impact of the novel models on the predicted pin performance. The outcome represents a step forward towards the description of fuel behaviour in fast reactor irradiation conditions, and allows the identification of the main remaining gaps.

Published in Nuclear Engineering and Technology

ISSN: 1738-5733 (Print)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: Korea, Republic of
LCC subjects: Technology: Electrical engineering. Electronics. Nuclear engineering: Nuclear engineering. Atomic power
Website: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/nuclear-engineering-and-technology

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