Thermophysical properties of uranium-erbium fuel for VVER reactors

Abstract

The present study aims to determine the thermophysical properties of industrial uranium-erbium oxide pellets with an erbium content of 1.2 wt % to substantiate the performance and safety of fuel for VVER reactor plants. The performed study yields experimental dependences of thermal expansion, specific heat capacity at a constant pressure, thermal diffusivity, as well as the calculated dependence of thermal conductivity on the temperature up to 1900 K.