Side-by-side high-temperature accident performance of ATF and conventional claddings in the CODEX-ATF experiment

Vér, Nóra and Farkas, Róbert and Bürger, Berta and Pintérné Csordás, Anna and Novotny, Tamás and Perez-Feró, Erzsébet and Szabó, P. and Illés, Levente and Kovács, Zoltán and Cinger, D. and Ševeček, M. and Hózer, Zoltán (2026) Side-by-side high-temperature accident performance of ATF and conventional claddings in the CODEX-ATF experiment. NUCLEAR ENGINEERING AND DESIGN, 450. ISSN 0029-5493

Preview

Text 1-s2.0-S0029549326000221-main.pdf - Published Version Available under License Creative Commons Attribution. Download (11MB) | Preview

Abstract

The CODEX-ATF integral bundle test was conducted within the framework of the IAEA Testing and Simulation for Advanced Technology and Accident Tolerant Fuels (ATF-TS) project at the CODEX (COre Degradation Experiment) facility in Hungary. The electrically heated seven-rod bundle consisted of four Cr-coated and three uncoated Zr alloy cladding tubes, enabling a direct comparison of their behavior under high-temperature accident conditions. The experiment primarily aimed to investigate fuel failure and degradation mechanisms. ◦ During the test, several rods exhibited ballooning and burst phenomena. The maximum temperature exceeded 1600 C. The transient was terminated by a bottom-up water quench. The total hydrogen generation was approximately 3 g, indicating substantial oxidation of the zirconium-based components. Intensive Zr-Cr eutectic interaction was observed in the hottest region of the bundle on the Cr-coated claddings. Post-test examinations revealed pronounced deformation and failure in both coated and uncoated claddings.

Actions (login required)

Edit Item