Quantification of Factors Affecting Thermally-Induced Bow in a CANDU Fuel Element Simulator

Abstract

Thermally induced bow, caused by a circumferential temperature distribution around a fuel element, was investigated in this study using a fuel element simulator. The objective was to identify the factors affecting CANDU fuel element bow induced by dryout as a result of some predicted reactor transients in which the maximum fuel temperature reaches 600 degrees C. The results showed that circumferential temperature distribution, pellet-to-sheath mechanical interaction and creep were the major factors affecting bow. Transient bow increased with increasing diametral sheath temperature difference and with mechanical interaction between the pellet and the sheath. Permanent bow of the fuel element was observed in some tests which was the result of creep. Mechanical interaction between the sheath and pellet produced the stresses necessary for creep deformation. A simplified ABAQUS model was developed to explain the experimental findings and could be used to predict the bow behaviour of fuel elements during reactor transients, where the dry patches are of different sizes.