Change of fuel-to-cladding gap width with burn-up in FBR MOX fuel irradiated to high burn-up

In order to study the dependence of the gap width change on the burn-up, the fuel-to-cl adding gap widths were investigated by ceramography in a large number of FBR MOX fuel pins irradiated to high burn-up. The dependence of gap widths on the burn-up was closely connected with the formations of JOG (joint oxyde-gaine) and rim structure. The gap widths decreased gradually due to the fuel swelling until similar to30 GWd/t, but beyond this burn-up the dependence showed two different tendencies. With the increase of burn-up, the gap widths decreased due to the increase of fuel swelling in the low fuel temperature region where the rim structure was observed, but they increased in the high fuel temperature region where the JOG rich in Cs and Mo formed in the gap. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.