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Thermal conductivity of UO2 fuel: Predicting fuel performance from simulation

  • Advanced Fuel Performance: Modeling and Simulation
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Abstract

Recent progress in understanding the thermal-transport properties of UO2 for fission reactors is reviewed from the perspective of computer simulations. A path to incorporating more accurate materials models into fuel performance codes is outlined. In particular, it is argued that a judiciously integrated program of atomic-level simulations and mesoscale simulations offers the possibility of both better predicting the thermal-transport properties of UO2 in light-water reactors and enabling the assessment of the thermal performances of novel fuel systems for which extensive experimental databases are not available.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA

    Simon R. Phillpot & Aleksandr Chernatynskiy

  2. Computational Science Department & Materials Science Program, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, 32310, USA

    Anter El-Azab

  3. Nuclear Engineering Program and Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA

    James S. Tulenko

Authors
  1. Simon R. Phillpot
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  2. Anter El-Azab
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  3. Aleksandr Chernatynskiy
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  4. James S. Tulenko
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Correspondence to Simon R. Phillpot.

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Phillpot, S.R., El-Azab, A., Chernatynskiy, A. et al. Thermal conductivity of UO2 fuel: Predicting fuel performance from simulation. JOM 63, 73–79 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11837-011-0143-x

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