Status and plan of RIA study at JAEA

JAEAにおける反応度事故研究の状況と計画

宇田川 豊  

Udagawa, Yutaka

JAEA launched ALPS-II program in 2010 in order to obtain regulatory data for advanced fuels. Five new reactivity-initiated accident (RIA) simulated tests on the advanced fuels have been performed. The first two fuels tested, VA-5 and VA-6, were 1717-PWR-type with stress-relieved and recrystallized M-MDA cladding tube, and irradiated to ~80 GWd/tU. The cladding failed due to the pellet-cladding mechanical interaction. The following two tests, VA-7 and VA-8, with sibling test rods and high temperature coolant condition showed temperature effect; the VA-7 test rod survived and the VA-8 test rod failed at higher fuel enthalpy level than VA-6. Also the GR-1 test, with M5 cladding and irradiated to 84 GWd/tU, was performed at room temperature condition and the fuel did not fail.