The Post-Irradiation Examination of CANDU Type Fuel Irradiated in the Institute for Nuclear Research TRIGA Reactor

Abstract

This post-irradiation examination work has been done under the Research Contract No.7756/RB, concluded between the International Atomic Energy Agency and the Institute forNuclear Research. The paper contains a general description of the INR post-irradiation facilityand methods and the relevant post-irradiation examination results obtained from an irradiatedexperimental CANDU type he1 element designed, manufkctured and tested by INR in apower ramp test in the 100 kW Pressurised Water Irradiation Loop of the TRIGA 14 MW(th)Reactor. The irradiation experiment consisted in testing an assembly of six fuel elements,designed to reach a bumup of approx. 200 MWh/kgU, with typical CANDU linear power andramp rate.