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ABSTRACT
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Read the articleAUTHORS
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Didier LAUX: Senior Lecturer - Université Montpellier 2, Institut d'Électronique du Sud, UMR CNRS 5214, Montpellier, France
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Gilles DESPAUX: Professor - Université Montpellier 2, Institut d'Électronique du Sud, UMR CNRS 5214, Montpellier, France
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Daniel BARON: Former senior engineer, - EDF R&D
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Vincenzo RONDINELLA: Department Manager, High Activity Cells, - European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Institute for Transuranium Elements (ITU), Karlsruhe, Germany
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Wim DE WEERD: Experimentation Manager - European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Institute for Transuranium Elements (ITU), Karlsruhe, Germany
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Mathias LAURIE: Area Manager, High Activity Cells - European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Institute for Transuranium Elements (ITU), Karlsruhe, Germany
INTRODUCTION
Knowing the mechanical properties of irradiated fuel is a key factor in optimizing the management of nuclear power plants. Given the small size of fuel pellets, only local characterization techniques such as high-frequency acoustic microscopy or micro-indentation are feasible. Thanks to the installation of a dedicated acoustic microscope in a high-activity cell at the ITU European research center in Karlsruhe, it is now possible to extract data on the elastic behavior of fuels up to more than 10 years of reactor operation. Giving access to Young's modulus, a good estimate of density and high-resolution subsurface images, this tool constitutes a standard characterization system for irradiated fuels and materials.
The knowledge of mechanical properties of irradiated fuel is necessary to improve nuclear power plants management. As fuel pellets are very small, only local characterization methods such as high frequency acoustic microscopy or micro-indentation for instance are relevant. Thanks to the introduction of a specific acoustic microscope in the European Research Centre ITU of Karlsruhe, it is now possible to obtain data concerning the elastic behavior of nuclear fuel up to more than 10 years of irradiation. This device, which can assess the Young modulus, correctly estimates the density, gives high resolution sub-surface pictures of fuel pellets now constitutes a standard characterization tool of nuclear fuel and irradiated materials.
acoustic microscopy – irradiated fuels – burning rate – moduli of elasticity – densitometry
acoustic microscopy – nuclear fuel – burnup – elastic moduli – densitometry
Field: high-resolution ultrasound imaging and mechanical characterization
Degree of technology diffusion: maturity
Technologies involved: acoustic microscopy
Applications: nuclear fuels and irradiated materials
Main French players: Institut d'Électronique du Sud (Université Montpellier 2 – CNRS) – EDF R&D
Other international players: European Commission – Joint Research Centre – ITU Karlsruhe
Contacts : [email protected] – [email protected]
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Acoustic microscope for studying irradiated nuclear fuels
General context: optimizing nuclear fleet management
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