Published 2014 | Version v1
Miscellaneous Metadata-only

Thoria versus urania comparison

Creators

  • 1. Univ. of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK (Canada)
  • 2. Univ. of Saskatchewan, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, Saskatoon, SK (Canada)

Description

We present the application of first principles calculations to compare the properties of traditional urania fuel and new, inherently safer thoria fuel. Oxidation of urania fuel can cause cracking or split the fuel sheath due to a net 32-36% volume increase when U3O8 is formed. This contrasts with thoria fuel where such oxidation does not occur during accident and therefore there is no undesirable degradation of its thermal conductivity. The fuel melting observed in urania fuel rods during accident with steam ingress is not observed in thoria, as its thermal conductivity remains high enough to dissipate excessive heat in the centre. (author)

Part of:
PBNC 2014 : 19th Pacific Basin Nuclear Conference; 38th Annual Student Conference of the Canadian Nuclear Society and Canadian Nuclear Association

Additional details

Publishing Information

Publisher
Canadian Nuclear Society
Imprint Place
Toronto, Ontario (Canada)
ISBN
978-1-926773-16-2
Imprint Title
PBNC 2014 : 19th Pacific Basin Nuclear Conference; 38th Annual Student Conference of the Canadian Nuclear Society and Canadian Nuclear Association
Imprint Pagination
270 Megabytes
Journal Page Range
[6 p.]

Conference

Title
19. Pacific Basin Nuclear Conference; 38. Annual Student Conference of the Canadian Nuclear Society and Canadian Nuclear Association
Dates
24-28 Aug 2014
Place
Vancouver, British Columbia (Canada)

INIS

Country of Publication
Canada
Country of Input or Organization
Canada
INIS RN
49016389
Subject category
S11: NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS;
Resource subtype / Literary indicator
Conference, Non-conventional Literature
Descriptors DEI
CERAMICS; CRACKING; FUEL CANS; THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY; THORIUM; URANIUM
Descriptors DEC
ACTINIDES; CHEMICAL REACTIONS; DECOMPOSITION; ELEMENTS; METALS; PHYSICAL PROPERTIES; PYROLYSIS; THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES; THERMODYNAMIC PROPERTIES

Optional Information

Notes
Paper PBNC2014-124. 16 refs., 3 figs.