SiC could replace zircon for nuclear fuel rods

• Autores: John Ollett
• Localización: Industrial Minerals, ISSN 0019-8544, Nº. 552, 2013
• Idioma: inglés
• Texto completo no disponible (Saber más ...)
• Resumen

  • The potential advantages of SiC cladding extend beyond reducing the risks in an accident, explained Mujid Kazimi, professor of nuclear engineering at MIT. "Because SiC reacts slowly with water, even under normal conditions it degrades less and can remain in a reactor core longer. That could allow reactor operators to squeeze extra energy out of fuel rods before refuelling," he said.

    Despite the current round of testing, SiC is not yet ready for widespread adoption by the nuclear industry, said Kazimi. "Because of the harsh environment fuel rods are exposed to - heat, steam, and neutrons that emanate from nuclear reactions - extensive further testing will be needed on any new cladding for use in commercial reactors," he added.

    In particular, while zirconium tubes can have their ends capped by welding a metal disk onto each end, SiC is a hard ceramic material and, as such, can't be welded, so a suitable bonding agent will need to be found. "We need to join the ceramic to ceramic in a way that can withstand the conditions in the nuclear core," said Kazimi.