Investigation to enhance performance of HTGR fuel

Mizuta, Naoki ; Ueta, Shohei   ; Aihara, Jun ; Shibata, Taiju 

JAEA has performed the research and development of the high-packing fraction fuel compact to prolong an operation cycles of HTGR. In this study, the fuel compacts were fabricated with CFP packing fraction targeted at 33 percent to confirm the feasibility of fabrication technology of the high-packing fraction fuel compact. SiC layer defective fraction, compressive strength and internal CFP distribution of the compact were evaluated. As a result, the fuel compacts showed as same level of SiC layer defective fraction as that of HTTR first loading fuel, and larger compressive strength than the HTTR fuel criteria. Uniformity of internal CFP distribution of the fuel compact was confirmed by ceramography. By the above results, the feasibility of fabrication technology for the high-packing fraction fuel compact was confirmed.