Modeling of Temperature and Burnup Distributions in the Uranium-Gadolinium Fuel Element of VVER

详细

In this paper, we have developed a model for calculating of the fission rate and burnup in an uranium- gadolinium fuel (UGF) pellet. The heterogeneous fission rate distribution at beginning of life of the uranium-gadolinium fuel is shown to lead to the formation of a radial gradient of the porosity in the UGF pellet and to the heterogeneous radiation-induced densification of the fuel. We have also developed physical models of thermophysical properties of He, ZrO₂, and zirconium cladding. Spatial and time temperature distributions in UGFE are calculated.