Thermal conductivity evaluation of high burnup mixed-oxide (MOX) fuel pellet

Amaya, Masaki  ; Nakamura, Jinichi ; Nagase, Fumihisa ; Fuketa, Toyoshi

In order to estimate the behavior of high burnup mixed-oxide (MOX) fuel, it is important to evaluate fuel temperature accurately. The thermal conductivity formula of MOX fuel pellet which is needed to evaluate the fuel temperature was proposed. By using Klemens's theory and reported thermal conductivities of unirradiated (U, Pu)O and irradiated UO pellets, the thermal conductivity formula which contains the effects of burnup and plutonium (Pu) addition was obtained. Temperature of high burnup MOX fuel was evaluated based on the above-mentioned formula and the thermal conductivity integral method, and was compared with the fuel temperatures measured in a test reactor. Since both values agreed well, it is considered that the proposed thermal conductivity formula of MOX pellets is adequate.