Water Resistant Properties of Uranium Silicide High Density Fuels for Enhanced Accident Tolerance

Lead Research Organisation: University of Bristol
Department Name: Physics

Abstract

Uranium Silicide (U3Si2) is a leading candidate for higher density fuels to be
used in future fission reactors since they provide a potential economic and
safety advantage over existing fuel-clad combinations.
The project will seek to provide an in depth experimental study of the surface
reactivity of U3Si2 with water over a range of pressure and temperature
conditions analogous to i) ambient storage, ii) normal LWR operating
conditions, and iii) accident conditions. The project will make use of a specialist UHV actinide sputter-deposition
instrument to fabricate U3Si2 thin film samples of different crystal orientations. Samples will be analysed and subjected to controlled water corrosion in monitored experimental cells to accurately derive corrosion rates.

Publications

10 25 50

Studentship Projects

Project Reference Relationship Related To Start End Student Name
EP/N509085/1 01/10/2015 31/03/2021
1652612 Studentship EP/N509085/1 01/10/2015 30/09/2019 Eleanor Lawrence Bright