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Laser-heating and Radiance Spectrometry for the Study of Nuclear Materials in Conditions Simulating a Nuclear Power Plant Accident
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Molten uranium dioxide structure and dynamics.

L B Skinner1, C J Benmore2, J K R Weber3

  • 1X-ray Science Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, IL 60439, USA. Mineral Physics Institute, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794-2100, USA. Materials Development, Inc., 3090 Daniels Court, Arlington Heights, IL 60004, USA. lawrie.skinner@gmail.com.

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|November 22, 2014
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Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Researchers studied molten uranium dioxide (UO2), a nuclear fuel, using advanced techniques. They found that molten UO2 has a lower uranium-oxygen coordination number, impacting its behavior during reactor accidents.

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Area of Science:

  • Materials Science
  • Nuclear Engineering
  • High-Temperature Chemistry

Background:

  • Uranium dioxide (UO2) is the primary fuel in nuclear fission reactors.
  • Understanding molten UO2 behavior is critical for nuclear reactor safety during severe accidents.
  • High temperatures and reactivity of molten UO2 have historically limited structural studies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the atomic structure of solid and molten uranium dioxide (UO2) at extreme temperatures.
  • To determine the coordination changes of uranium and oxygen upon melting.
  • To provide data for improved modeling of nuclear fuel behavior during accidents.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized laser heating and sample levitation techniques to achieve high temperatures (>3140 K).
  • Employed synchrotron X-ray diffraction to perform pair distribution function (PDF) measurements.
  • Developed and refined molecular dynamics (MD) models based on experimental structural data.

Main Results:

  • Observed increased oxygen disorder in solid UO2 near the lambda transition (2670 K) with minimal change in U-O coordination.
  • Determined a significant drop in average U-O coordination from 8 to 6.7 ± 0.5 upon melting.
  • MD simulations predicted higher U-U mobility in the molten state compared to 8-coordinated melts.

Conclusions:

  • The study provides the first structural insights into molten UO2.
  • The reduced U-O coordination and increased U-U mobility are key characteristics of molten UO2.
  • These findings are crucial for accurate safety assessments and accident simulations in nuclear power plants.