Modeling and Thermal Calculation of Fuel Rod With SiC_f/SiC Cladding for LWRs

SiC fiber composite material as fuel cladding is proposed to increase the power density and maximum allowable fuel burnup in light water reactors. Empirical models about thermal properties of the SiC material are developed as a function of operating temperature and neutron fluence. A fuel rod modeling code frapcon2-SiC based on frapcon2 is compiled to predict the performance of SiC cladding when operating. Comparison of the behavior between the SiC_f/SiC cladding and Zr-4 cladding in different thickness reveals that higher temperature will get due to the poor thermal conductivity of the SiC. As far as the Conclusion shows that Poor thermal performance of SiC cladding makes the design margin becomes smaller.