Alloy design and characterization of a recrystallized FeCrAl-ODS cladding for accident-tolerant BWR fuels; An Overview of research activity in Japan

Ukai, Shigeharu  ; Sakamoto, Kan*; Otsuka, Satoshi   ; Yamashita, Shinichiro   ; Kimura, Akihiko*

Following the severe accident at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in 2011, FeCrAl-ODS claddings have been developed in Japan. This paper presents an overview of the alloy design and the process used to manufacture the recrystallized cladding, together with an analysis of the applicability of these alloys as BWR fuel cladding and a summary of the simulated severe accident performance. It was verified that core excess reactivities affected by the increased neutron absorption by Fe, Cr, Al can be compensated by reducing the thickness to half that of Zircaloy cladding, while maintaining mechanical integrity. A simulated design basis LOCA event with assessment of post-LOCA ductility confirmed that FeCrAl-ODS cladding provided a greater safety margin. The SA code analysis indicated that melting of the Zircaloy core could be slightly accelerated due to release of the huge amount of exothermic reaction heat, whilst the water injection always acts toward cooling the FeCrAl-ODS core.