Burnup determination of Full-Scale, High-Density U3Si2-Al (4.8 gU/cc) fuel plate using destructive radiochemical technique

• Published in: Nuclear engineering and design Vol. 425; p. 113327
• Main Authors: Br. Ginting, Aslina, Yanlinastuti, Boybul, Supardjo, Sungkono, Pinem, Surian, Carlos Sihotang, Juan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 15.08.2024
• Subjects: Burnup; Cs-137; Destructive method; U-235; U3Si2-Al density 4.8 gU/cc; Destructive method; U3Si2-Al density 4.8 gU/cc; Burnup; Cs-137; U-235
• ISSN: 0029-5493; 1872-759X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nucengdes.2024.113327

•Zeolite effectively absorbs Cs-137 and Cs-134 isotopes from U3Si2/Al fuel solution in the cation–anion exchange method.•In radiochemical analysismethod, using Cs-137 or U-235 as indicator does not yield notable differences in the burnup value.•The highest measured burnup was obtained in the middle position of the fuel plate.•Large uncertainty in the gamma scanning method yields a notable burnup value differences compared to radiochemical analysis techniques. Burnup determination of the U3Si2-Al fuel plate (FP) with a density of 4.8 gU/cc has been carried out using the destructive method with the isotopes Cs-137 and U-235 as indicators. The FPs were irradiated in the G.A. Siwabessy multi-purpose reactor (RSG-GAS). Burnup determination begins by cutting the U3Si2-Al FP in a duplicate manner on three positions, top, middle, and bottom, then dissolving it with HCl and HNO3 to obtain a fuel solution containing fission products of Cs-134, Cs-137, U-235 and other isotopes. The separation of Cs-137 from U-235 was carried out by the cation–anion exchange method using Lampung zeolite with the entire process carried out in a hot cell. The product resulting from the separation was the isotope Cs-137 in the solid phase, while U-235 was in the liquid phase. The amount of Cs-137 and U-235 isotopes were measured with an alpha- and gamma-spectrometry, so the weight of Cs-137 and U-235 can be used to determine the burnup of each FP. The results of burnup calculation of the 4.8 gU/cc U3Si2-Al FP using the destructive method were 25.06%, 57.96%, and 35.20% on the top, middle, and bottom respectively. There is no significant difference between nominal burnup derived from the weight of the isotopes Cs-137 and U-235 obtained with the destructive method, with the most significant difference to the non-destructive method being 10.26% when using the Cs-137.