Thermomechanical simulation of the DIAMINO irradiation experiment using the LICOS fuel performance code
Licos , a fuel performance code for innovative fuel elements or experimental devices design
Résumé
Future GENIV sodium-cooled fast reactor (SFR) may include Americium (Am) recycling in the radial fertile blankets positioned in the outer core regions. An issue related to this option is the lack of knowledge regarding the behaviour under irradiation of the Am-bearing blanket (AmBB). The DIAMINO separate-effect experiment was irradiated in the OSIRIS Material Test Reactor (MTR) with the goal of studying AmBB gaseous release and swelling as a function of temperature, blanket microstructure and gas production rate.A brief description of the experiment is first provided, in terms of objectives and planning. The innovative design developed for the DIAMINO experiment is described in details. The DIAMINO irradiation time history is then summarized and the first results of non-destructive post-irradiation examinations are given.The thermo-mechanical modelling of the DIAMINO experiment device using the LICOS code is then detailed, together with the validation of the computations on the basis of some experimental temperature measurements performed on an in-pile mock-up of the experiment. The use of the simulation tool for the monitoring of the AmBB sample temperature under irradiation and for the post-irradiation calculations is explained and illustrated through some examples.