Corrosion simulation of high density Al cladded fuel of G. A. Siwabessy Research Reactor

Abstract

Corrosion Simulation of High Density Fuel of G. A. Siwabessy Research Reactor. Prototypes of high density plate type fuel element have been fabricated. The uranium density 2 prototypes are 4.8 and 5.2 g/cm3, while the current loaded density in GAS reactor core is 2.96 g/cm3. Higher density fuel may prolong irradiation time, augment coolant velocity and cladding temperature. Corrosion layer decreases heat transfer across the aluminum cladding. The prediction had been conducted for an average and a realistic condition by using Y-S. Kim corrosion model that take into account the irradiation time, temperature, heat flux, pH, and cooling water velocity. Corrosion thickness had been evaluated for different core parameter: temperature, heat flux, and corrosion resistance. All simulation had been performed in ~100 days operations in 4 cycles, each divided by steps of 100 hours. The prediction found that the layer thickness increases as operation time, although temperature and flux decrease with time. A fluctuation of about 10 K and 10% of flux from the averages show less effect on corrosion layer, while increasing constantly 25 K augments significantly the layer thickness.