NEM 445

Assignment 9, Due December 22

1) A fuel rod with 95% theoretical density UO2 fuel pellets of 0.37-inches in diameter is clad
in zircaloy cladding of thickness of 0.026-inches. The RADIAL gap between the pellet
and the clad is 0.002 inches thick and the gap is filled with helium. The average power of
the rod is 5.433 kw/ft. The cladding conductivity is 10.5 Btu/hr-ft- 0F, and the equation for
the conductivity of the helium is given as:
kHe = 1.314x10-3xTgas0.668 , where Tgas is in 0R and is equal to (Tci + 115oF)
Use Deans model for the gap conductance between the fuel pellet and the cladding and
calculate the fuel centerline temperature using the temperature dependent fuel thermal
conductivity by the conductivity integral approach. Assume the convective heat transfer
coefficient on the outside of the fuel rod is 6500 Btu/hr-ft 2-0F and the bulk coolant
temperature is 580 0F.
Deans model: h gap

kg
Radius of Clad - Radius of Fuel 14.4x10

-6

Btu
hr - ft 2 o F

2) For PWR cylindrical solid fuel pellet operating at a heat flux equal to 53.9 x 10 3 Btu/hr ft2
and at a surface temperature of 752 oF, calculate the maximum temperature in pellet in oF
for two assumed values of conductivities:
k= 7.0 Btu/hr ft oF
k= 1+3e-0.0005T where T is in oC
Constants and Reminders: PWR pellet diameter is 0.306 in. Assume the flux depression
factor is 1.0.
3) Derive Equation 5-71 of the notes.
4) Consider a PWR reactor vessel (the dimensions of a typical PWR vessel is given in Table
2-5 of the 2nd chapter of the notes). By picturing the reactor vessel as a plate as shown
below, please calculate the maximum temperature in the plate if one side of the plate is air
with a temperature of 100 oF and heat transfer coefficient of 5000 Btu/hr-ft2-oF and the
other side is water with a temperature of 580 oF and heat transfer coefficient of 9800

Btu/hr-ft2-oF. Assume from the interior surface of the vessel is subjected to pure radiation
of 1014 photons/sec-cm2 flux and 5.0 MeV/photon strength. The conductivity constant of
the vessel is 28 Btu /hr-ft-oF, linear attenuation coefficient is 7.5 ft-1.

Thickness

water
air
Perimeter of the vessel

Height