Fuel-to-cladding gap evolution and its impact on thermal performance of high burnup fast reactor type uranium–plutonium oxide fuel pins

Drastic evolution of fuel-to-cladding gap is observed in high burnup JOYO Mk-II driver and MONJU type uranium–plutonium oxide fuel pins. The effect of the evolution is examined from viewpoints of fuel restructuring, gaseous FP release and retention and cesium migration behaviors. Its thermal impact on fuel pin performance is also studied by one-dimensional steady state thermal analysis. Threshold condition of the evolution depends on fuel pellet characteristics, burnup and probably temperature. The evolution directly relates to as-fabricated microstructures and to gaseous FP release and retention behavior. A comparison of fuel restructuring with predicted temperature profiles indicates that, even where large residual gaps are observed, non-gaseous filler always improves the heat transfer across the gaps.