Data Base on the Behavior of High Burnup Fuel Rods with Zr-1%Nb Cladding and U0 ₂ Fuel (VVER Type) under Reactivity Accident Conditions: Review of Research Program and Analysis of Results (NUREG/IA-0156, Volume 1, IPSN 99/08-1, NSI RRC KI-2179)

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Publication Information

Manuscript Completed: December 1998
Date Published: July 1999

Prepared by:
L. Yegorova
Nuclear Safety Institute of Russian Research Centre, "Kurchatov Institute"
Kurchatov Square 1
Moscow 123182, Russia

Prepared for:
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Institute for Protection and Nuclear Safety (France)
Ministry of Science and Technologies of Russian Federation

Published by:
Division of Systems Analysis and Regulatory Effectiveness
Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Washington, DC 20555-0001

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Abstract

The present report contains a data base used for analyzing the behavior of three types of VVER fuel rods (fresh fuel rods; fuel rods with fresh fuel and irradiated cladding; high burnup fuel rods) which have been tested in the Impulse Graphite Reactor (IGR) under reactivity accident conditions. The basic test parameters are as follows:

• capsule tests with stagnant water or air coolant under ambient conditions;
• pressurized fuel rods;
• fuel burnup: 0 and 48 MWd/kg U;
• pulse width: about 700 Ms.

The presented data base includes the results of reactor tests of 25 fuel rods as well as results of pre- and posttest examinations of fuel rods, computer simulations of fuel rod behavior under test conditions; in addition, the report presents the results of special out-of-pile tests carried out to measure mechanical properties of Zr-1%Nb cladding.

The report consists of three volumes, each volume contains the following information:

Volume 1:	Brief description of the test program, testing and analytical techniques and summary of results;
Volume 2:	Description and validation of procedures used to obtain the data base. Summarization of test results as supported by mechanical properties of Zr-1%Nb cladding;
Volume 3:	Data base consisting of: parameters of VVER fuel rods before and after irradiation at the NovoVoronezh Nuclear Power Plant; parameters of fresh and refabricated fuel rods before and after IGR tests; results of out-of-pile mechanical tests of non-irradiated and irradiated Zr-1%Nb claddings.

This volume of the report is of independent significance and contains an overview of the research program as well as results of investigations carried out to study the behavior of VVER fuel rods under reactivity accident conditions. This volume can be used as a reference book for those who would like to get an idea about the content and results of conducted investigation. In addition, the volume presents recommendations how to use it as a guidebook for the other two volumes.