RAPHAEL-FT & Generation IV PYCASSO-I Irradiation

Within the Raphael (V)HTR 6th framework EU-program, the PYCASSO experiments have been devised to investigate coating behaviour under irradiation. Samples have been included from CEA (France), JAEA (Japan) and KAERI (Republic of Korea), which makes this irradiation a real Generation IV effort. The experiment is a separate effect test, where the influence of fuel (coating corrosion or micro structural change due to fission products), thermal gradients, and variation in coating microstructure and dimensions have been minimized by the use of dummy kernels (Al2O3 and ZrO2), high conductivity particle holder material combined with low energy production of the kernels, and strict (fabrication) quality control and selection procedures respectively. The purpose of the experiment is threefold for the partners involved: - for CEA to determine the behaviour of pyrocarbon under irradiation, especially the interaction of pyrocarbon swelling and creep with SiC coating layers. The results will be used to validate and improve HTR fuel performance modelling. - for JAEA to investigate the behaviour of ZrC coatings, which have been successfully manufactured, but require post-irradiation investigation and characterization. - for KAERI to determine the influence of fabrication of pyrocarbon layers with different densities on the behaviour under irradiation. The paper will go into more detail on the goals to be achieved by the different partners. The PYCASSO-I irradiation is performed in the High Flux Reactor (HFR) in Petten, The Netherlands. The experiment accommodates temperature regions of 900, 1000 and 1100°C, and contains 76 separate particle sample holders. The PYCASSO-I irradiation is a completely new design and will be described in detail, including the route from the concept definition via feasibility studies, fabrication and assembly, up to the irradiation, which took only 1, 5 year. At the time of the conference, the PYCASSO-I irradiation will be finished and a full evaluation of the irradiation will be presented. Additionally, the future post irradiation examination planned for the PYCASSO-I samples and the details of the PYCASSO-II irradiation will be outlined.