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Understanding the interface interaction between U3Si2 fuel and SiC cladding.

Vancho Kocevski1, Denise A Lopes2,3, Antoine J Claisse3

  • 1Nuclear Engineering Program, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, 29208, USA. vancho.vk@gmail.com.

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|May 28, 2020
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Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Triuranium disilicide fuel with silicon carbide cladding shows significant stability for advanced reactors. Limited interfacial reactions and defect formation indicate a robust fuel-cladding system under operational conditions.

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Area of Science:

  • Nuclear Engineering
  • Materials Science
  • Computational Materials Science

Background:

  • Advanced accident-tolerant fuels are crucial for enhancing nuclear reactor safety.
  • Triuranium disilicide (U3Si2) and silicon carbide (SiC) composites are promising candidates for next-generation nuclear fuel cladding.
  • Understanding the chemical compatibility between U3Si2 fuel and SiC cladding is essential for operational and accident scenario assessments.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To comprehensively investigate the chemical interactions between U3Si2 fuel and SiC cladding.
  • To determine the thermodynamic driving forces for interfacial phase formation and defect generation.
  • To validate computational predictions with experimental diffusion couple results.

Main Methods:

  • Density functional theory (DFT) calculations were employed to determine reaction energies and defect formation energies.
  • Diffusion couple experiments were conducted to observe interfacial reactions between U3Si2 and SiC.
  • Thermodynamic analysis was used to assess the stability of the fuel-cladding system.

Main Results:

  • DFT calculations predicted the potential formation of triuranium pentasilicide (U3Si5), uranium carbide (UC), U20Si16C3, and uranium silicide (USi) phases at the interface.
  • Calculations revealed a thermodynamic driving force for defect generation in both U3Si2 and SiC when interfacial phases form.
  • Diffusion experiments confirmed restricted formation of U3Si5, UC, and U20Si16C3/USi, indicating limited continuous interfacial reactions.

Conclusions:

  • The U3Si2 and SiC fuel-cladding system exhibits substantial stability due to a diminishing driving force for defect formation.
  • The limited interfacial reactions observed suggest a robust performance under operational and potential accident conditions.
  • This study demonstrates the potential of U3Si2/SiC as an accident-tolerant fuel system for light water reactors.