HTGR Fuel Fabrication and quality control Bing Liu IAEA Course on High Temperature Gas Cooled Reactor Technologies Institute for Nuclear and New Energy Technology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China October 22-26, 2012 INET, Tsinghua University Bing Liu New Materials Division INET, Institute of Nuclear and New Energy Technology, Tsinghua University Nuclear fuel and fuel cycle, HTR fuel, coated particle, manufacture and model ©Division of New Materials Outline INET, Tsinghua University 1. Introduction of HTR fuel 2. Fabrication Technology and Equipments 3. Examination, Quality control and quality assurance 4. References ©Division of New Materials INET, Tsinghua University 1. Introduction of HTR fuel ① Full ceramic fuel ② Normal 1200℃, Accident 1600℃ ③ Burn up 10-19%FIMA ④ High level retard ability of FP(10-6) ⑤ High outlet temperature(750950℃) ⑥ Inherent safety character and the first barrier to FP ©Division of New Materials INET, Tsinghua University The concept of coated particle fuel was invented by Huddle of the UKAEA and patented in March 1959 Design functions of the ceramic coating layers of the TRISO fuel particle. Kernel Buffer (density ≤1.10 g.cm-3) • • Composed of UO2, UCO, ThO2, U-Th, U-Pu Provide fission energy • Provides void volume for gaseous fission products and carbonoxygen reaction products (CO, CO2) released from fuel kernel. Accommodates fuel kernel swelling. Protects PyC and SiC layers from recoil damage. • • • Inner PyC (iPyC) (density ≥1.85 g.cm-3) • • SiC (near theoretical density of 3.21 g.cm-3 ) • • • Outer PyC (oPyC) (density > 1.85 g.cm-3) ©Division of New Materials • • A diffusion barrier to fission products, retains gaseous fission products. An impermeable layer prevents Cl2 from reaching kernel during SiC deposition, and prevents CO from interacting with SiC during irradiation. Provides mechanical substrate for deposition of SiC layer. Primary barrier to fission products, retains all gaseous and solid fission products at normal operating temperatures (<1250°C) except 110mAg Load bearing layer for particle Creates compressive stress on SiC during irradiation due to PyC shrinkage Retains gaseous fission products Provides bonding layer with carbonaceous fuel element matrix INET, Tsinghua University History of HTR fuel elements 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. AERE, Harwell and the DRAGON project in the U.K. GA and the Battelle Memorial Institute (BMI) in the U.S.A. Spherical fuel element preceded the coated fuel particle in NUKEM, GmbH. Germany. More recently, development also in Japan, France, China, South Korea and South Africa. carbide/oxide, UC, UC2, (Th,U)C2, (U,Zr)C, and UO2, BISO/TRISO, HEU/LEU, several types of the fuel ©Division of New Materials Outline INET, Tsinghua University 1. Introduction of HTR fuel 2. Fabrication Technology and Equipments 3. Examination, Quality control and quality assurance 4. References ©Division of New Materials INET, Tsinghua University 2. Fuel Fabrication process of HTR fuel (cont.) Kernel technology and equipment Coated particle technology and equipment Compacts (prismatic), and pebble technology and equipment ©Division of New Materials INET, Tsinghua University 2-1Kernel fabrication Process and technology 1 . Sol preparation 2. Gel particles forming 3 . Aging, washing and drying Ammonia 4 . Calcining to UO3 particles 5 . Reducing and sintering 6 . Sieving and sorting 7. Kernel ©Division of New Materials INET, Tsinghua University Kernel manufacture Process and technology (cont.) 1. Powder Metallurgical method 2. Sol-Gel Process (with good sphericity, and high density) 3. Gel control (internal, external, and total) 4. The reaction of gel, G/L interface, L/L interface ©Division of New Materials INET, Tsinghua University 1. Prepare Feed Solution: Feed material is in the form of U3O8 powder which is dissolved in nitric acid to form a uranyl nitrate solution according to: 3U3O8 (s) + 20HNO3 (aq) → 9UO2(NO3)2 (aq) + 10H2O + 2NO (g). The uranyl nitrate solution is pre-neutralized with ammonium hydroxide just prior to precipitation: 2UO2(NO3)2 (aq) + NH4OH (aq) → 2UO2(NO3)1.5(OH)0.5 (aq) + NH4NO3 (aq). ©Division of New Materials INET, Tsinghua University 2. 3. Prepare Casting Solution: A casting solution is prepared by adding small amounts of polyvinyl alcohol and tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol to the pre-neutralized uranyl nitrate solution. This adjusts the surface tension and viscosity to ensure proper droplet formation and also assists later with uniform shrinkage and crystal growth. Cast ADUN (acid-deficient uranyl nitrate in aqueous solution) Microspheres: This step is carried out in a glass column filled with the concentrated ammonium hydroxide precipitation solution. The casting solution is fed to the nozzles (typically up to five or six) at the top of the column, where a vibrator shakes off droplets from the feed stream. ©Division of New Materials INET, Tsinghua University 4. 5. 6. 7. Age: The microspheres and the accompanying precipitation solution are transferred from the casting column to a flat tank for aging. During ageing the vessel is heated with steam to 80°C. The process fully converts the gel spheres to solid ammonium diuranate kernels, and ensures complete crystal growth. Wash: After ageing the solution is drained from the vessel. The ADUN kernels in the vessel are washed with water to remove the ammonium nitrate as well as ammonium hydroxide and tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol. Then the kernels are washed. Dry: The final step is to dry the kernels. The diameter of a dried ADU kernel is about 1 mm and the bulk density 1 g.cm-3. Calcine: After drying the ADUN kernels are calcined in air up to 430°C. The remaining organic additives are cracked and driven off during a gradual temperature increase. Above 400°C the ADU is converted to UO3: (NH4)U2O7 (s) + O2 (g) → 2UO3 (s) + 2H2O (g)+ NO (g). The diameter of a calcined kernel is ~0.8 mm and the bulk density ~2 g.cm-3. ©Division of New Materials INET, Tsinghua University 8. Reduce and Sinter: After calcining follows reduction and sintering at high temperature to remove remaining impurities and densify the kernels. The process is carried out under hydrogen atmosphere to reduce the UO3 to UO2: UO3 (s) + H2 (g) → UO2 (s) + H2O (g). The temperature is taken up to 1600°C in order to form dense, stoichiometric UO2 kernels that have a diameter of 500 µm and a density just below the theoretical value of 10.96 g.cm-3. Sieve: The final production steps are sieving to remove any under and over sized kernels. 10. Sort: The sieved kernels are then sorted to remove any oddshapes. This is performed on a vibrating sorting table, slightly inclined to allow spherical kernels to roll down-hill while odd-shaped particles are vibration transported along a perpendicular direction and collected for recycling. 9. ©Division of New Materials INET, Tsinghua University The diagram of kernel process *From Dr. Georg Braehler and Dr. Volker Dürr, NUKEM ©Division of New Materials INET, Tsinghua University Kernel manufacture Process and technology (cont.) UCO and PuO2 kernel ©Division of New Materials INET, Tsinghua University The key manufacture equipments of UO2 kernel in INET ©Division of New Materials INET, Tsinghua University The key equipments ----nozzle ©Division of New Materials INET, Tsinghua University 2-2 Coated particle fabrication process and equipments Deposition Diagram of coated particle UO2 kernels C2H2+Ar Buffer layer Laminar C2H2+C3H6+Ar MTS+H2+Ar Inner PyC layer SiC layer Fine axial C2H2+C3H6+Ar Out PyC layer sieving sorting CP product Sampling examination ©Division of New Materials Large columnar INET, Tsinghua University Coated particle fabrication (cont.) 1. 2. 3. 4. TRISO coated fuel particles are fabricated using spouted-bed chemical vapor deposition process (uninterrupted and sequential process). Specified properties of the 4 layers are influenced by the process conditions : Deposition temperature Coating gas fraction Coating gas ratio (PyC dense) Deposition rate Deposition time Technology and size of CVD coater are also to be taken into account because coating mechanisms are depending on hydrodynamics, heat and mass transfer… Key problems: particles cycling characters in high temperature ©Division of New Materials INET, Tsinghua University Coated particle fabrication process 1. Two key technology: particle Fluidization and chemical vapor deposition (CVD) 2. Four layers uninterrupted and sequential coating process 3. Pyrolysis and compound, heat transfer and mass transfer. 4. All the Control Parameters temperature, gas pressure and gas flow reach “the best conditions” It is a complex “black box” process ©Division of New Materials INET, Tsinghua University Coated particle fabrication (cont.) The fluidization technology 1. The cold simulation and calculation 2. The fluidization tube and the gas distributor 3. Particles cycle performance: uniform, Reliable and maintainable ©Division of New Materials INET, Tsinghua University Coated particle fabrication (cont.) 1. Buffer layer (porous carbon layer) Properties Density/Porosity Thickness: 95um Chemical process C2H2 (g) 2C (s) + H2 (g) diluted in Ar 1250°C < T < 1450 °C Fluidizing gas : Ar Deposition rate of ~ 15-25 μm/min ©Division of New Materials INET, Tsinghua University Coated particle fabrication (cont.) 2. OPyC layer (outer dense carbon layer) Properties Density/Porosity Thickness Anisotropy Permeability Chemical process 1250°C < T < 1400 °C C2H2 (g) 2C (s) + H2 (g) C3H6 (g) 3C (s) + 3H2 (g) Fluidizing gas : Ar Deposition rate of ~ 3-7 μm/min diluted in Ar ©Division of New Materials INET, Tsinghua University I-OPyC Density and anisotropy ©Division of New Materials INET, Tsinghua University Coated particle fabrication (cont.) 3. SiC Properties Density Thickness Microstructure Structure (Grain size, fine axial) Chemical process 1500℃< T < 1650 °C CH3SiCl3 (g) + H2 (g) SiC (s) + 3HCl (g) + H2 (g) Fluidizing gas : H2 Deposition rate of ~ 0.2 – 0.5 μm/min ©Division of New Materials INET, Tsinghua University Coated particle fabrication equipment The coater and sorting table Vibrator sorting table ©Division of New Materials INET, Tsinghua University The coaters: ©Division of New Materials INET, Tsinghua University The coated particle manufacture equipment in INET ©Division of New Materials INET, Tsinghua University 2-3 The fuel elements for HTR (compact, and pebble) 1. Process diagram of COMPACK ©Division of New Materials INET, Tsinghua University 2. Process diagram of spherical fuel element ©Division of New Materials INET, Tsinghua University 3. The manufacture of raw materials----graphite power for fuel element ©Division of New Materials INET, Tsinghua University 4. Matrix power manufacture ©Division of New Materials INET, Tsinghua University 5. Overcoating of TRISO coated particle ©Division of New Materials INET, Tsinghua University 6. Press with temperature in a steel mould---compact ©Division of New Materials INET, Tsinghua University Press in a room temperature with rubber module (silica gel) some key equipments in NUKEM for pebble fabrication ©Division of New Materials INET, Tsinghua University Dispersion of coated particles, Size measure, U free zone (X-RAY), in compact and pebble—the final examination of fuel ©Division of New Materials INET, Tsinghua University Pebble manufacture equipments in INET ©Division of New Materials Outline INET, Tsinghua University 1. Introduction of HTR fuel 2. Fabrication Technology and Equipments 3. Examination, Quality control and quality assurance 4. References ©Division of New Materials INET, Tsinghua University Quality control, quality assurance and examination methods 1. quality assurance (QA) and quality control (QC) of asmanufactured fuel will be of utmost importance. 2. Quality is defined as conformity of properties and conditions of items or activities with the specifications. 3. In the fuel qualification, the procedure is such that quality characteristics are specified and then proven by examination. fuel kernels and the coated particles and the fuel spheres, and, first of all, to the raw materials. 4. QC and QA are related to the examination methods closely. 5. QC and QA are the main characters of the fuel industrial manufacture. ©Division of New Materials INET, Tsinghua University 1. The main design specifications of pebble UO2 kernel diameter/µm density/ (g·cm-3) sphericity (Dmax/Dmin) O/U ratio B content /(g·g-1) Graphite matrix and the fuel Density /(g·cm-3) Total ash /(μg·g-1) Li content /(μg·g-1) Coated fuel particle B content /(μg·g-1) Thickness of Buffer layer /µm Thermal conduction 1000°C /(Wcm-1·K-1) Thickness of IPyC /µm Thickness of SiC /µm Thickness of OPyC/µm Density of buffer layer /(g·cm-3) Density if IPyC /(g·cm-3) Density of SiC /(g·cm-3) Density of OPyC /(g·cm-3) OAF of IPyC and OPyC ©Division of New Materials Anisotropy α⊥/α∥ Corrosion 1000°C, He+1vol,%H2O /(mg·cm-2h-1) Wear /(mg·ball-1 h-1) Drop strength (4m in height) Crushing strength /KN INET, Tsinghua University Characterization methods applied in Germany for HTR fuel * Inspection Item Method Sampling Rate Raw Materials Compression density of graphite powder Density measurement under defined load Powder in forging die Rebound of graphite powder Measurement of height difference of powder column during and after load Powder in forging die Spec. electric resistance of graphite powder Measurement of voltage drop along powder column Powder in forging die Impurities in graphite powder Chemical analysis after incineration, emission and absorption spectrometry, photometry, fluorimetry Representative quantity Impurities in uranyl (U3O8 powder) Chemical analysis after incineration, emission and absorption spectrometry, photometry, fluorimetry Representative quantity Isotope composition Mass spectrometry with regard to 238U Representative quantity 234U, 235U, *from IAEA-TECDOC-1674 ©Division of New Materials Fuel Kernel INET, Tsinghua University Heavy metal loading Transfer of kernels into a stoichiometrically well defined state and do chemical analysis O/HM ratio Potential controlled coulometry Isotope composition Mass spectrometry with regard to 234U, 235U, 238U Carbon content Oxidation of kernels and do chemical analysis of CO2 Oxygen content (UCO) Hot extraction of oxygen, transfer into CO and do chemical analysis of CO, infrared spectrometry Dope material content Spectral photometry, Atom absorption spectrometry Diameter Optical imaging with particle size analyzer, X-ray microradiography Sphericity Counting of fraction of odd-shaped particles, Multiple measurement of maximum and minimum diameter, Micro-radiography, stereo-microscope Density Optical particle size analyzer or V-slot to measure mean diameter; Mercury pycnometer or air pycnometer to measure volume Phase structure Measurement of reflection on certain lattice planes and comparison of intensities with Debye-Scherrer goniometer Structure Measurement of reflection on defined lattice planes, X-ray with Debye-Scherrer goniometer Sieve fraction 100 % sieving with DIN sieves Weight Weight of counted number of kernel and determine mean weight Impurities Spectral photometry, Atom absorption spectrometry ©Division of New Materials Larger number of kernels Grinded kernels INET, Tsinghua University Coated Fuel Particle Diameter Optical particle size analyzer Layer thickness X-ray projection micro-radiography (only oPyC and SiC), X-ray contact macroradiography, Microscopy analysis of ceramographic sections, Optical particle size analyzer, Fluid pycnometer Density Weight of counted number of particles and determine mean weight Density of highly dense layers Liquid density gradient column with calibration bodies Gas pycnometer Optical anisotropy factor OAF (in air) or OPTAF (in oil), Bacon anisotropy factor BAF ©Division of New Materials Ceramographic cuts exposed to polarized light, OPTAF is ratio of reflected light intensity vertically to deposition direction over reflected light intensity in deposition direction; Correlation between OPTAF and BAF Volume of ~50 g Growth features size and distribution Etching of ceramographic sections by wet oxidation, plasma oxidation, or ion bombardment, Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) Polygonity of layers X-ray diffraction, Stereo-microscope, Measurement of layer thickness in 300 – 900 position Heavy metal content Grinding of particles and transfer into distinct compounds of U by oxidation, quantitative chemical analysis of U Surface contamination Leaching of particles with HNO3, quantitative chemical analysis of U Defective SiC layers Burn-Leach method Heavy metal migration Micro-radiography, visual inspection of buffer layer Tightness of iPyC Micro-radiography, visual inspection of buffer and iPyC layers after leaching with HNO3 compared to before Samples taken after iPyC coating process Micro-porosity Determination of fractions of layer, fibre, mosaic components in PyC by X-ray small-angle diffraction Fragments of PyC layers Pore structure Quantitative image analysis and determination of pore size distribution Ultimate tensile strength of SiC and PyC Determination of fracture load by crushing between sapphire plates, Hemispherical bursting, Ring compression test, Micro-hardness Vickers or Brinell hardness Young's modulus: PyC, SiC Crushing between sapphire plates and recording stress-strain curve ©Division of New Materials SEM on fractured INET, Tsinghua University coating, TEM on thinned coating specimens Single SiC or PyC rings prepared from layers, Single SiC half shells PyC or SiC specimens INET, Tsinghua University Some key techniques of examination 1. Diameter of kernel and coated particle 2. Sphericity of kernel and coated particle 3. Anisotropy of I-OPyC layers ©Division of New Materials Fuel Sphere INET, Tsinghua University Matrix density Dimension and weight measurements Matrix specimens 5 x 5 x 35 mm3 Thermal expansion coefficient and anisotropy Measurement of temperature and dimensional change with dilatometer; Anisotropy is ratio of coefficient (parallel) over coefficient (vertical) Matrix specimens 5 x 5 x 35 mm3 Dynamic elasticity modulus Elastomat or frequency generator E = 4 f2 l2 ρ where f – resonance frequency, l – length, ρ density Matrix specimens 5 x 5 x 35 mm3 Bending strength 3-point test on bending device σ = (Fm l)/W where Fm – fracture strength, l – support span, W – resistance momentum Matrix specimens 5 x 5 x 35 mm3 Compressive strength σ = Fc/Q where Fc – crushing strength, Q – cross section of specimen Matrix specimens 5 x 5 x 35 mm3 Tensile strength σ = Ft/Q where Ft – breaking force, Q – cross section of specimen Matrix specimens 8 mm diameter x 30 mm Specific electrical resistance R = (U Q)/(I l) where U – voltage drop, Q – cross section, I – electric current, l - length Matrix specimens 5 x 5 x 35 mm3 Thermal conductivity @ RT Direct measurement Matrix specimens 5 x 5 x 35 mm3 Thermal conductivity @ 40°C Thermo-conductometer after Schröder setting a stationary temperature difference by means of the boiling temperatures of two liquids and measuring the time required for the vaporization of a certain quantity of liquid, comparison with calibration standard Matrix specimens 5 x 5 x 35 mm3 ©Division of New Materials Radial flux method:λ = (Q ln(r2/r1))/(2 l ΔT) Matrix specimens 40 mm where Q – power of central heater, r1, r2 – distances of INET, Tsinghua University diameter x 25 mm TC from specimen axis, l – active length of specimen, Matrix specimens 6 mm Thermal conductivity ΔT – temperature difference between TC diameter x 32 mm @ 1000°C Modified Kohlrausch procedure by setting an almost with axial bore hole parabolic axial temperature profile with maximum in of 1 mm diameter specimen centre and small drop to the sides (< 10°) Impurities, ash 20-50 g of matrix contents, B Spectral photometer, atomic absorption spectrometry material equivalent Number of falls Falls onto pebble bed of the same spheres until fracture Sphere Fracture load Direct measurement Sphere Determination of mass loss after 10 h annealing @ 900°C or 1000°C in flowing helium at 0.1 MPa and 1% steam: Corrosion velocity Corrosion velocity K = Δm/(F t) where Δm – mass loss, F – sphere surface, t - time Sphere Fuel-free zone Examination of particle-free shell by X-ray and visual inspection Sphere Abrasion Determination of mass loss in mg/h in abrasion drum Sphere Surface appearance Visual inspection Sphere Released heavy metal (matrix contamination) Electrolytical deconsolidation of matrix material with HNO3 and quantitative chemical analysis of U in electrolyte and leach solution Sphere Defective SiC layers Burning of spheres in muffle furnace and leaching of uranium- see description of burn-leach test in chapter 3.1.4. Sphere Heavy metal content Burning of spheres in muffle furnace, destruction of SiC layers ©Division of New Materials INET, Tsinghua University Free U content (coated particle) Failure fraction and U contamination Burn leach test 1. Particles are heated in air to burn off exposed carbon. 2. Hot nitric acid dissolves kernels in particles with defective SiC. 3. Performed before and after compacting and press. 4. Low defect fractions require large QC samples ©Division of New Materials INET, Tsinghua University Examination equipments in INET ©Division of New Materials INET, Tsinghua University Equipments for chemical examination ©Division of New Materials INET, Tsinghua University Batch treatment in QA/QC ©Division of New Materials INET, Tsinghua University QA/QC diagram in the fabrication of Chinese pebble natural graphite 1.checking certif. 2.enrichment 3.U content 4.impurity 5.Beq 1.density 2.diameter 3.portion of Dmax/Dmin≥ 1.2 4.ratio of O/U 5.portion of odd-shaped particles 6.impurity 1.thickness 2.density 3.PyC OPTAF 4.surface U contamination 5.free U fraction HP:Hold Point ©Division of New Materials U3O8 HP1 fuel kernel fabricating electro graphite HP2 HP3 binder HP4 graphite matrix sphere fabricating graphite matrix sphere fuel kernel HP7 HP5 coating spherical fuel element fabricating coated fuel particle spherical fuel element HP6 HP8 fuel element product 1.checking certif. 2.impurity 3.Beq 4.density 5.grain size 6.BET surface 1.checking certif. 2.viscosity 3.molecular weight 4.softness point 5.impurities 1.density 2.total ash content 3.Li content 4.Beq 5.thermal conductivity 6.anisotropic degree of thermal expansion 7.oxidation rate 8.crush strength 9.drop number 10.wear rate 1.U content in FE 2.diameter 3.fuel-free shell 4.U contamination rate of graphite matrix 5.free U portion INET, Tsinghua University Basic design research Examinati on and QA/QC Lamina r grain Ammonia Fine columnar grain Large columnar grain ©Division of New Materials Technology and facility Mass production INET, Tsinghua University Other topics of fuel fabrication: 1. Effluent treatment and recovery of Uranium Liquid waste from process (ammonia removal for fuel processing wastewater) 2. Waste from cp and compact and pebble (Separation of the fuel particles from the graphite matrix, Fragmentation of the fuel particles) ©Division of New Materials INET, Tsinghua University New development------- GFR ------- MSR ------- VHTR exhibit excellent safety performance at accident temperatures of at least 1600°C, and should ultimately tolerate burn-ups of about 10 to 20% fissions per initial metal atom, and fluences up to 6×1025 n/m2 (E > 0.1 MeV). ©Division of New Materials INET, Tsinghua University References 1. IAEA-TECDOC-1674 Advances in High Temperature Gas Cooled Reactor Fuel Technology 2. Georg Braehler, HTR Fuel fabrication: processes and equipment, NUkEM 3. Scott E. Niedzialek Demonstration of Commercial Scale Compacting at The Babcock & Wilcox Company, VHTR R&D FY12 Technical Review Meeting, Salt Lake City, Utah, May 22 - 24, 2012 4. Michael Trammell Overview of AGR-2 NGNP Fuel Compact Fabrication, VHTR R&D FY10 Technical Review Meeting, Denver, Colorado, April 27-29, 2010 5. C. Ablitzer CVD in fluidized-bed furnace Pyrolytic Carbon and SiC deposition, Eurocourse on coated particle fuel, Petten, The Netherlands, December 4th – 7th, 2007. 6. John Hunn Quality Assurance and Quality Control for Coated Particles and Fuel Compacts Eurocourse on Coated Particle Fuel, Petten, The Netherlands, December 4th –7th, 2007 ©Division of New Materials INET, Tsinghua University Thank you for your attention! Bing Liu ©Division of New Materials bingliu@tsinghua.edu.cn