11:30 AM - 11:45 AM
[2I07] Feasibitlity of Helium-bond Particulate Metal Fuel
Keywords:fast reactor, metal fuel, thermal conductivity, packed bed of particles, sintering
Helium-bond particulate metal fuel for fast reactors consists of bimodal fuel alloy particles packed in cladding tube with helium gas. Comparing with conventional fast reactor metal fuel, the helium-bond particulate metal fuel has following advantages. (1) It enables gas plenum to be located below the fuel region and enhance the effect of the sodium plenum that suppresses positive coolant void reactivity. (2) It eliminates sodium-bonding step from metal fuel fabrication process. Helium-bond particulate metal fuel needs ‘preconditioning’ to promote sintering among the fuel particles before normal operation. In this study, methodology to evaluate the thermal conductivity of packed bed of fuel particles during sintering has been developed, and appropriate preconditioning conditions have been determined.