EFFECTIVE THERMAL-CONDUCTIVITY IN MULTI-FRACTION REACTOR-FUELS Academic Article uri icon

abstract

  • The effective thermal conductivity of the fuel elements used in nuclear reactors is of significant importance in determining the performance, reliability and operational efficiency of the reactors. This is especially true in sphere-pac reactor fuels, in which the fuel elements are comprised of packed beds of spherical or near spherical particles. Presented here is a review of the analytical and experimental investigations, conducted to predict or determine the thermal conductivity of beds of packed spherical particles such as those found in sphere-pac reactor fuels. Included are packed beds in which the particles are all of uniform size and beds in which several different sizes exist. Analytical techniques for packed beds both with and without restructuring are presented, discussed and compared with the existing experimental data. Based upon this review, it is apparent that additional analytical and experimental investigations are necessary in order to accurately predict the effective thermal conductivity in sphere-pac reactor fuels. Specific areas where this need is greatest are identified and discussed. 1987 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

published proceedings

  • JOURNAL OF NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

author list (cited authors)

  • PETERSON, G. P., FLETCHER, L. S., & PEDDICORD, K. L.

citation count

  • 0

complete list of authors

  • PETERSON, GP||FLETCHER, LS||PEDDICORD, KL

publication date

  • September 1987