Fuel performance analysis of Cr-coated Zircaloy-4 cladding during a prototypical LOCA event using BISON

Abstract

Deformation and failure of chromium (Cr) coated Zircaloy-4 (Zry-4) were studied in loss-of-coolant accident (LOCA) conditions using the BISON fuel performance code. The BISON validation model simulating Halden research reactor experiments was extended to include Cr coatings and higher rod internal pressures to simulate high-burnup fuel. The transient simulations show Cr coatings help relieve stress in the Zry-4 substrate during the transient, delaying the onset of high-temperature creep, which leads to ballooning and bursting of the cladding. A nominal Cr coating thickness of 30 μm delays clad failure by 26 seconds and increases the clad burst temperature by 40 K. A parametric study showed that time to failure and burst temperature both increase with coating thickness, and Cr-coated cladding offers burst resistance under a wide range of rod internal pressures simulating high-burnup fuel. Results indicate that a thin Cr coating provides resistance against ballooning and bursting of cladding during LOCA events. © 2024 Elsevier Ltd