Progress in Nuclear Energy 53 (2011) 748e755

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Progress in Nuclear Energy

journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/pnucene

The results of the irradiation experiment HELIOS

E. D’Agata a, *, J.M. Lapetite a, F. Klaassen b, S. Knol b, C. Sciolla b, J. Somers c, A. Fernandez-Carretero c,
J.M. Bonnerot d, F. Delage d
a
European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Institute for Energy, P.O. Box 2, 1755 ZG Petten, The Netherlands
b
Nuclear Research and Consultancy Group, Dept. Life Cycle and Innovations, P.O. Box 25, 1755 ZG Petten, The Netherlands
c
European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Institute for Transuranium Elements, P.O. Box 2340, 76125 Karlsruhe, Germany
d
Commissariat à l’Energie Atomique, DEC CEA-Cadarache, 13108 St. Paul lez Durance Cedex, France

a r t i c l e i n f o a b s t r a c t

Article history: The HELIOS irradiation experiment is the latest of a series of experiments on americium transmutation,
Received 12 November 2010 and has been carried out in the framework of EURATOM’s 6th Framework Programme (FP6) project
Received in revised form EUROTRANS, which was completed in March 2010. The transmutation of Minor Actinide (MA) is
16 May 2011
a fundamental step in order to be able to close the cycle of the nuclear fuel. Past experimental activities in
Accepted 20 May 2011
the field of transmutation and testing of innovative nuclear fuel containing Am has proved that the
release or trapping of helium is a key issue for the design of such kind of fuel or targets. Therefore, the
Keywords:
main objective of the HELIOS experiment is the study of the in-pile behaviour of U-free fuels, such as
Americium
Transmutation
(Pu,Am,Zr,Y)O2 or (Am,Zr,Y)O2, CERCER (Am2Zr2O7þMgO), CERMET ((Pu,Am)O2þMo) or ((Am,Zr,Y)
HELIOS O2þMo), to gain knowledge on the role of the fuel microstructure and of the operating temperature on
Nuclear experiment gas release and fuel swelling.
The HELIOS irradiation experiment started in the HFR (High Flux Reactor) in Petten (The Netherlands)
on the 29th of April 2010 and finished on the 19th of February after 9 reactor cycles (w241 full power
days). Although the Post-Irradiation Examination (not performed yet) conducted on the CERCER and
CERMET target fuel tested during the HELIOS irradiation experiment will determine the performance of
the fuel, the behaviour of such targets during the irradiation did not show any difficulties. It is possible to
conclude that from an operational point of view, these kinds of fuel targets which have been developed
mainly having in mind the possibility to burn MA in a in a subcritical nuclear system, did not show
significant issues. This paper summarises the main experimental data obtained during the 9 cycle
irradiation of the HELIOS experiment in the HFR.
Ó 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

1. Introduction
In the frame of the EURATOM 6th Framework Programme (FP6),
the HELIOS irradiation programme was part of the 5 year project
EUROTRANS (completed in March 2010). The aim of EUROTRANS
was the design of an experimental facility demonstrating the
technical feasibility of Transmutation in an Accelerator Driven
System (XT-ADS), as well as to accomplish a generic conceptual
design of a modular European Facility for Industrial Transmutation
(EFIT) (EUROTRANS), although the result obtained from this
experiment can be applied to critical fission reactor.
Americium is one of the radioactive elements that contributes to
a large part to the radiotoxicity of spent nuclear fuels. Trans-
mutation by irradiation in nuclear reactors of long-lived nuclides
* Corresponding author. Tel.: þ31 224 56 5117; fax: þ31 224 5627.
E-mail address: elio.dagata@ec.europa.eu (E. D’Agata).
like 241Am is therefore an option for the reduction of the mass and
radiotoxicity of nuclear waste. The analysis of previous irradiation
experiments (e.g. EFTTRA-T4 Conrad, 1996) and EFTTRA-T4bis
Conrad, 1997) which were carried out at the High Flux Reactor
(HFR) showed that the release/trapping of helium in the fuel is the
key issue for target design. In fact, these experiments showed
a significant volume swelling, which was attributed to the
production of helium, a characteristic of 241Am transmutation.
These findings led to the development of a new experiment,
HELIOS, in such a way that helium will be released from the target
during irradiation. Such release of helium might be achieved either
with a fuel temperature kept sufficiently high during the whole
irradiation or with release paths for helium created by inclusion of
tailored open porosity in the targets.
Therefore, the main objective of the HELIOS irradiation experi-
ment is the study of the in-pile behaviour of U-free fuels and targets
to gain knowledge on the role of the microstructure and of the

0149-1970/$ e see front matter Ó 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
doi:10.1016/j.pnucene.2011.05.023
 E. D’Agata et al. / Progress in Nuclear Energy 53 (2011) 748e755 749

temperature on the gas release and on fuel swelling. The main issue
of the HELIOS experiment is to design the fuel/target for helium
releases in an early stage of irradiation. Two different approaches
are followed to reach early helium release:

 Provide release paths by creating open porosity, i.e. release

paths to the plenum gas. Therefore, in the HELIOS test matrix 4 1
a composite target with a MgO matrix containing a network of
open porosity has also been included (i.e. pin 1).
 Increase the target temperature in order to promote the release
of helium from the matrix. The role of added plutonium in
HELIOS pins 3 and 5 is to increase the temperature of the target
at the beginning of irradiation. Due to the absence of plutonium
in pin 2, the fuel temperature of pin 2 was much lower than
that of pin 3. This large temperature difference therefore
allowed studying the impact of the temperature on the helium
release in detail.

The HELIOS irradiation experiment has been carried out in the

3 2
position G7 of the HFR core. The HELIOS experiment has been
irradiated for 9 cycles (w241 full power days).
The HELIOS test matrix consists of five pins, based on a MgO
(pin1), zirconia (pin 2 and 3) and molybdenum matrix (pin 4 and 5).
HELIOS pin 1 and 3 were loaded in sample holder HELIOS1, whereas
Fig. 2. QUATTRO-129 capsule of the experiment (North orientation).
pin 2, 4 and 5 were loaded in sample holder HELIOS2. The total
americium concentration in the pins 1e4 is designed to be identical
(w 0.7 g cm3) in order to enable a comparison of the various fuel  A AISI 316 tube containing the irradiation experiment
concepts. Pin 5 has a special composition, with (Pu,Am)Ox devices.
dispersed in Molybdenum.  A shroud, made by Molybdenum, containing pins 1 and 3
(HELIOS1) or pins 2, 4 and 5 (HELIOS2). The Mo open tube
contains also some scientific instrumentation, such as
thermocouples and neutron fluence detector sets.
2. Experimental  The fuel sealed pins, made of 15-15 Ti steel, containing the
fuel pellets.
The HELIOS irradiation has been carried out in two channels of
a standard QUATTRO-129 rig (Raison and Haire, 2001) with Both pins and molybdenum shroud are immersed in a sodium
a standard rig head. The two parts composing the experiment (the bath for enhanced thermal heat transfer. The sodium then fills the
sample holders) have been called HELIOS1 containing pins 1 and 3 1st containment and it is in contact with the shroud, with the fuel
and HELIOS2 containing pins 2, 4 and 5. The layout of the two pins and with the AISI 316 sample holders that contain the shroud
sample holders is the same. The difference between the two sample and the pins. See Fig. 1 for a schematic view of the experiment.
holders is only in the number of pins contained. To control the temperature of the experiment the gas mixture in
Both sample holders consist of three main sections, namely: the gap between the sample holder and the QUATTRO channel
could be changed, which was needed to compensate for the burn-
a) the lower in-pile section which consists mainly of : up of the fuel. A mixture of Helium, Neon and/or Nitrogen has been
employed in order to decreasing thermal conductivity. To have
a uniform neutronic flux, the orientation of the experiment has
Gas: He been changed between every cycle (see Fig. 2 and Table 1).
1st Containment
Pin 2
b) the middle section of the sample holders which consists of the
AISI 316 Sample
holder shielding plug, the dust filters in all capillary tubes and one
Gas:
He+Ne
filter with activated charcoal in the down-stream of the second
nd
2 Containment Fuel containment.
Pin 3 pellets c) The upper section of the sample holders which consists of the
Gas: He
Mo Shroud penetration plug with the dynamic O-ring sealing the connector
for the thermocouples, the snap-tight connectors of gas lines
and one extension rod with a snap connector for the coupling
Pin 4
Pin 1 with the Vertical Displacement Unit(VDU) in the rig head.
Liquid: Na
Pin 5 Table 1
Configuration of HELIOS in the QUATTRO-129.
The Mo shroud QUATTRO-129
Configuration
is opened channel
Channel 1 Aluminium dummy
Channel 2 HELIOS1 (pins 1 þ 3)
Channel 3 HELIOS2 (pins 2 þ 4 þ 5)
Fig. 1. Schematic view of the irradiation experiment. HELIOS1 on the left (pins 1 and Channel 4 Aluminium dummy
3), HELIOS2 on the right (pins 2, 4, and 5).
750 E. D’Agata et al. / Progress in Nuclear Energy 53 (2011) 748e755

Table 2 Table 3
Fuel and targets to be irradiated in the HELIOS experiment. The position and function of the Thermocouples for HELIOS1.

Pin Nr. Composition Microstructure %Pellet TD As-fabricated Instr. Thermocouple Position Function Comments
measured density Number
[g cm3] # 1, 2, 3, 4 Above the Non-functional Type-K
241
Am Pu-tot Na level
#5 Above the Monitor the Type-K
1 Am2Zr2O7 þ MgO 550 mm 91.5 0.66
level of Na level of the Na
2 (AmZr,Y)O2 Solid solution 92.6 0.7 TC
# 6, 7 At the level Monitor the Type-K
3 (Am,Pu,Zr,Y)O2 Solid solution 89.7 0.74 0.39 TC
of sodium level of the Na
4 (Zr,Am,Y)O2þMo 65e125 mm 94.1 0.7
#8 Below the Monitor the Type-K
5 (Pu,Am)O2þMo >150 mm 96 0.3 1.2
level of Na level of the Na
# 9, 10, 11, 12 At the top Monitor the cladding Type-K
of Pin 3 temperature of Pin 3
The 5 experimental fuel/target (Fernandez et al.) pins (2 pins in # 13 Inside Pin 3 Monitor the fuel Type C This
HELIOS1 and 3 pins in HELIOS2) contain: temperature of Pin 3 TC is inside
pin 3 to
monitor
1. MgO þ Am2Zr2O7, CerCer composite pellets to test the behav- directly the
iour of the pyrochlore oxide structure. fuel
2. (Am,Zr,Y)O2, solid solution pellets (homogeneous fuel). This pin temperature
is instrumented with a central thermocouple. # 14, 15, 16, 17 At the bottom Monitor the cladding Type-K
of Pin 3 temperature of Pin 3
3. (Pu,Am,Zr,Y)O2, solid solution pellets (homogeneous fuel). This
# 18, 19, 20, 21 At the top Monitor the cladding Type-K
pin is instrumented with a central thermocouple. Comparison of Pin 1 temperature of Pin 1
of pins 2 and 3 will allow to assess the effect of the fuel # 22, 23 At the bottom Monitor the cladding Type-K
temperature on the gas release. of Pin 1 temperature of Pin 1
4. (Am,Zr,Y)O2þMo CerMet composite pellets.
5. (Pu,Am)O2þMo, CerMet composite pellets.
these thermocouples will be taken into account when the results of
the Fluence Detector will be available.
An overall view of the fuel/targets irradiated in the HELIOS
The Tables 3 and 4 show each thermocouple with its function
experiment is given in Table 2.
and positions. The Table 5 summarise the gas composition used,
The scientific instrumentation of the HELIOS experiment
during each cycle, in the gap between the sample holder and the
consists of thermocouples (23 for HELIOS1 and 24 for HELIOS2),
QUATTRO thimble to control the temperature of the experiment.
gamma-scanning wires (4 for HELIOS1 and 4 for HELIOS2) which
Each fuel pin contains 6 fuel pellets, the so called "thermocouple
extend over the entire length of the sample holders and 5 fluence
at the top" is located in the Mo shroud at the level of the highest
detector (1 per each pin).
fuel pellet and it provides approximately the cladding temperature
Two types of TCs are used in the experiment:
of the top of the pin to which the thermocouple is associated. The so
called "thermocouple at the bottom" is located in the Mo shroud at
 45 type-K thermocouples to measure the temperature field at
the level of the lowest fuel pellet and it provides approximately the
the sodium level and above the sodium level as well as the
cladding temperature of the bottom of the pin at which the ther-
cladding temperature of the pins. The TCs were located inside
mocouple is associated. The internal thermocouple is located inside
grooves realized on the outer diameter of the Mo-tubes.
the pin reading the temperature of the third annular pellet
Thermocouples 5 through 8 for HELIOS1 and 1 through 4 for
HELIOS2 were positioned at different levels to monitor the
sodium level and detect small leakage. Table 4
 2 W-Re thermocouples with Mo sheet were used to measure The position and function of the Thermocouples for HELIOS2.
the central temperature of pins 3 and 2 respectively in HELIOS1 Thermocouple Position Function Comments
and HELIOS2. These thermocouples read directly the fuel number
temperature of pins 3 and 2 and were inserted into annular fuel #1 Above Na level Monitor the level Type-K
pellets at the top of the stack (see Fig. 3). of the Na
# 2, 3 At Na level Monitor the level Type-K
of the Na
The WeRe thermocouple exhibits measurable drifts in a nuclear
#4 Below Na level Monitor the level Type-K
environment (Vitanza and Stien, 1986). This "decalibration" of of the Na
# 5, 6, 7, 8 At the top Monitor the cladding Type-K
of Pin 2 temperature of Pin 2
Thermocouple located at the #9 Inside Pin 2 Monitor the fuel Type C This
Annular Fuel pellets
top, in correspondence of the temperature of Pin 2 TC is inside
first fuel pellet pin 2 to monitor
directly the
15-15 Ti steel
cladding fuel temperature
Internal thermocouple (where # 10, 11, 12, 13 At the bottom Monitor the cladding Type-K
present) measures the temperature of of Pin 2 temperature of Pin 2
Sodium the third annular fuel pellet # 14, 15, 16, 17 At the top Monitor the cladding Type-K
of Pin 4 temperature of Pin 4
Mo shroud # 18, 19, 20, 21 At the bottom Monitor the cladding Type-K
Thermocouple located at the of Pin 4 temperature of Pin 4
bottom, in correspondence of
# 22, 23 At the top Monitor the cladding Type-K
the last fuel pellet
of Pin 5 temperature of Pin 5
# 24 At the bottom Monitor the cladding Type-K
of Pin 5 temperature of Pin 5
Fig. 3. Sketch of a generic pin to show the position of thermocouples.
 E. D’Agata et al. / Progress in Nuclear Energy 53 (2011) 748e755 751

counting from the top. Due to the annular nature of this pellets, the
derived temperature is lower than the centre line temperature of
the solid fuel pellets.
3. The irradiation
3.2. Control rod position
During each cycle, the control rods are moved out of the core to
compensate for the burn-up of the fuel (see Fig. 5). As a result, the
position of maximum flux shifts upwards during each cycle.

3.1. Power 3.3. Vertical position (VDU)

Reactor power was held constant during the irradiation, at an The experiment has been kept always at the lowest position of
average of 45 MW (Fig. 4). From Fig. 4 it is possible to see the shut the core. During cycle 5, 6 and 8 some minor movement have
down of the reactor (due to several reasons not related with the been performed by the operator to check the VDU system (see
experiment) occurred during cycle 4, 6, 7 and 8. Fig. 6).

Table 5
Summary of the gas composition used in the gap between the sample holders and the QUATTRO channels to control the temperature (separately) of HELIOS1 and HELIOS2.

HELIOS1 HELIOS2

Cycle Date-Hr He% Ne% N2% Cycle Date-Hr He% Ne% N2%
I 2009e03 29/04/09 12:30 100 I 2009e03 29/04/09 12:30 100
29/04/09 22:00 50 50 29/04/09 22:49 50 50
29/04/09 22:15 20 80 30/05/09 06:30 100
29/04/09 22:30 100 II 2009e04 02/06/09 14:00 100
11/05/09 15:25 85 15 09/06/09 19:19 50 50
12/05/09 17:10 100 27/06/09 06:18 100
II 2009e04 02/06/09 14:00 100 III 2009e05 30/06/09 18:30 100
08/06/09 15:00 100 01/07/09 20:30 75 25
09/06/09 14:30 90 10 01/07/09 20:53 25 75
09/06/09 14:45 80 20 02/07/09 11:50 50 50
09/06/09 15:05 70 30 05/07/09 04:30 60 40
09/06/09 19:18 50 50 18/07/09 06:53 100
27/06/09 06:17 100 IV 2009e06 17/08/09 16:18 100
III 2009e05 30/06/09 18:30 100 19/08/09 07:08 70 30
01/07/09 20:15 75 25 08/09/09 19:21 SCRAM 70 30
01/07/09 20:35 25 75 V 2009e07 12/09/09 17:35 100
01/07/09 21:15 100 13/09/09 15:02 80 20
18/07/09 06:50 100 16/09/09 14:48 70 30
IV 2009e06 17/08/09 16:18 100 01/10/09 11:57 60 40
18/08/09 02:00 50 50 02/10/09 13:40 65 35
18/08/09 03:15 100 05/10/09 12:51 70 30
19/08/09 01:50 90 10 11/10/09 13:20 60 40
19/08/09 04:51 80 20 16/10/09 06:56 100
19/08/09 04:56 70 30 VI 2009e08 19/10/09 16:00 100
19/08/09 05:01 50 50 19/10/09 21:25 70 30
20/08/09 03:48 40 60 22/10/09 09:13 65 35
08/09/09 19:21 SCRAM 40 60 22/10/09 21:32 70 30
V 2009e07 12/09/09 17:30 100 23/10/09 00:34 60 40
13/09/09 13:32 50 50 26/10/09 04:24 55 45
13/09/09 14:31 100 13/11/09 07:00 100
13/09/09 18:14 95 5 VII 2009e09 16/11/09 22:28 100
13/09/09 19:56 80 20 17/11/09 03:44 70 30
16/09/09 14:48 50 50 17/11/09 14:45 65 35
16/10/09 06:45 100 17/11/09 19:10 60 40
VI 2009e08 19/10/09 16:00 100 18/11/09 13:20 55 45
20/10/09 20:48 75 25 22/11/09 12:15 60 40
20/10/09 22:20 50 50 28/11/09 02:45 65 35
21/10/09 03:05 25 75 12/12/09 01:45 60 40
13/11/09 07:10 100 12/12/09 04:30 50 50
VII 2009e09 16/11/09 22:28 100 12/12/09 18:30 55 45
17/11/09 03:30 100 15/12/09 20:00 60 40
17/11/09 14:52 75 25 18/12/09 06:57 100
20/11/09 19:30 50 50 VIII 2009e10 21/12/09 22:30 100
18/12/09 06:56 100 22/12/09 05:15 80 20
VIII 2009e10 21/12/09 22:30 100 22/12/09 05:45 70 30
22/12/09 06:00 50 50 15/01/10 08:00 100
22/12/09 06:30 100 IX 2010e01 18/01/10 14:33 100
22/12/09 13:52 75 25 19/01/10 02:30 80 20
23/12/09 04:52 50 50 20/01/10 04:15 70 30
15/01/10 08:00 100 21/01/10 01:30 60 40
IX 2010e01 18/01/10 14:33 100 29/01/10 11:55 55 45
19/01/10 02:00 100 19/02/10 06:30 100
19/01/10 03:45 70 30
19/02/10 06:30 100
END IRRADIATION HELIOS1 END IRRADIATION HELIOS2
752 E. D’Agata et al. / Progress in Nuclear Energy 53 (2011) 748e755

Cycle 1 Cycle 2 Cycle 3 Cycle 4 Cycle 5 Cycle 6 Cycle 7 Cycle 8 Cycle 9

50

49

48

47

46

45

44

43

42

41

40
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200 210 220 230 240 250
SCRAM days, 81 , 99 , 143 , 150 , 169 , 214

Fig. 4. Reactor power as a function of irradiation time, over the entire duration of the irradiation.

3.4. Gas composition in the gas gap between the QUATTRO capsule
and sample holder
To control the temperature of the experiment, the gas mixture
in the gas gap between the sample holder and the QUATTRO
capsule has been frequently changed. The table below reports the
composition adopted for each sample holder (HELIOS1 and
HELIOS2) in each cycle.
3.5. Thermocouple temperatures
Figs. 7 and 8 shows a summary of the thermocouples readings in
each sample holder for each cycle. The thermocouples are located
inside grooves in the molybdenum shroud surrounding the pins
(see Fig. 3). The readings of the thermocouples correspond
approximately to the cladding temperature of the pins. Pins 3 and 2
have also internal thermocouples which read the central temper-
ature of the fuel.
It is possible to see from the Figs. 7 and 8 that due to the burn-up
of the plutonium, the pins 3 and 5 decreased their temperature
during the whole irradiation while the other pins, containing
americium, slightly increased their temperature due to the
production of plutonium. The increase of the temperature in each
cycle is due to the position of the control rods that are gradually
extracted during the cycle to control the reactivity of the HFR. This
increasing of the temperature is more accentuated inside the pins
where the thermocouples monitor directly the fuel temperature
(pins 3 and 2).
3.6. Post-cycle flux calculations
After each cycle, neutron fluxes were calculated for each
experiment position in the reactor using the OSCAR code
(Hendriks, 2009a; Hendriks, 2009b; Hendriks, 2009c; Hendriks,
2009d; Hendriks, 2010a; Hendriks, 2010b; Hendriks, 2010c;
Hendriks, 2010d). These calculations allow for a correction with
respect to the pre-irradiation MCNP burn-up calculation.

Cycle 1 Cycle 2 Cycle 3 Cycle 4 Cycle 5 Cycle 6 Cycle 7 Cycle 8 Cycle 9

75

70

65

60

55

50

45

40

35

30
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200 210 220 230 240 250
SCRAM days, 81 , 99 , 143 , 150 , 169 , 214

Fig. 5. Control rod position during the 9 cycles pertinent to the HELIOS experiment.
 E. D’Agata et al. / Progress in Nuclear Energy 53 (2011) 748e755 753

Cycle 1 Cycle 2 Cycle 3 Cycle 4 Cycle 5 Cycle 6 Cycle 7 Cycle 8 Cycle 9

50

40

30

20

10

-10

-20
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200 210 220 230 240 250
SCRAM days, 81 , 99 , 143 , 150 , 169 , 214

Fig. 6. VDU position during the 9 cycles pertinent to the HELIOS experiment.

The pre-irradiation MCNP calculations (van der Marck and
Sciolla) yield for position G7:
 A fast flux (energy boundary 0.82 Mev < E
0.780  1014 [cm2s1].
 A high epithermal flux (energy boundary
< 0.82 MeV) of 1.106  1014 [cm2s1].
 A low epithermal flux (energy boundary
< 5.53 keV) of 0.927  1014 [cm2s1].
 A thermal flux (energy upper boundary
0.486  1014 [cm2s1].
This number is an average over the experiment (centre-line
core  300 mm). At the duration of 240.7 full power days, the
calculated fluxes result in a total fluence of:
 A fast fluence of 1622.12  1018 [cm2] (0.82 Mev < E
< 19.6 MeV).
 A high epithermal fluence of 2300.09  1018 [cm2]
(5.53 keV < E < 0.82 MeV).
 A low epithermal fluence of 1927.83  1018 [cm2]
< 19.6 MeV of (0.625 eV < E < 5.53 keV).
 A thermal fluence of 1010.70  1018 [cm2] (E < 0.625 eV).
5.53 keV < E
Comparing the data from the calculation during pre-irradiation
0.625 eV < E shown above with the data from the calculation during post-
irradiation shown in Table 6, it is clearly visible that the experi-
0.625 eV) of ment has received more fluence than expected, by around 30%. This
discrepancy is in agreement with the observed higher temperature
than expected in the whole experiment, especially in the pins
containing Pu which are more sensitive to the increase of fluence
due to their fission power. The post calculation data will be
confirmed (or not) with the measurement of the fluence detectors
(FD) located close to each pin. With the measured data from the FD
it will be possible to make a final assessment of the real fluence per
pin and thus the achieved burn-up.

Cycle 1 Cycle 2 Cycle 3 Cycle 4 Cycle 5 Cycle 6 Cycle 7 Cycle 8 Cycle 9

1600

Pin 3 Internal Tc
1400
Pin 3

Pin 1
1200

1000

800

600

400

200

0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200 210 220 230 240 250

Fig. 7. A summaries of the thermocouples reading for HELIOS1 during the entire irradiation.
754 E. D’Agata et al. / Progress in Nuclear Energy 53 (2011) 748e755

Cycle 1 Cycle 2 Cycle 3 Cycle 4 Cycle 5 Cycle 6 Cycle 7 Cycle 8 Cycle 9

800
Pin 2 Internal Tc

Pin 2
700
Pin 4

Pin 5
600

500

400

300

200

100

0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200 210 220 230 240 250

Fig. 8. A summaries of the thermocouples reading for HELIOS2 during the entire irradiation.

Table 6 conceivable that the production of helium, considering the higher

Post-irradiation and pre-irradiation calculated fluence. fluence observed based on the post-irradiation calculation (see
Type of Spectrum Fluence Fluence chap. 3.2.7), will be higher. Moreover, the production of Helium
pre- post- inside the pins does not stop with the irradiation. For a while, there
calculated calculated will be a production of helium also during the cooling time (alpha
 1018 [cm2]  1018 [cm2]
decay of certain transmutation products). The next important step
Fast 0.82 Mev 1622.12 1681.73
will be to compare the Helium produced (taking into account the
< E < 19.6 MeV
High Epith 5.53 keV 2300.09 2299.74 helium produced during irradiation and during the cooling time)
< E < 0.82 MeV with the Helium released in each pin determined by puncturing
Low Epith 0.625 eV 1927.83 2050.06 procedure. This comparison will clarify the influence of micro-
< E < 5.53 keV structure and temperature on the release of helium from the
Ther. E < 0.625 eV 1010.70 1417.33
different nuclear fuels tested in HELIOS. Table 7 shows the data
related to the production of Helium based on the pre-irradiation
neutronic calculation, the real helium production is expected to
be higher.
3.7. Estimated helium production
3.8. Burn-up
The HELIOS experiment assesses the behaviour of different
kinds of nuclear fuel in relation with the production of Helium due The amount of Am, Pu, Cu, Np and U at the End Of Irradiation
to the neutron reaction chain of Am-241. A first assessment of the (EOI) has been determined on the basis of the nuclear calculation
production of Helium has been done in the preliminary analyses made before the irradiation [15] for an irradiation period of 240.7
[15], which account for a longer irradiation, but was then reduced fpd are presented in Table 8.
due to the repairs of the HFR, so that a lower production is Again, the evaluation made in Table 8 must be confirmed with
expected. On the other hand, a cross check to confirm the values the measurement of the Fluence Detector located close to each pin.
reported in this chapter, will be done when the data from the flu- It is highly conceivable that the values reported in the table above,
ence detectors will be measured and then they will be compared considering the higher fluence observed based on the post-
with a calculation made on basis of the post cycle data. It is highly irradiation calculation (see chap. 3.2.7), will be different.

Table 7
Estimated helium productions in each pin based on pre-irradiation calculation.

Pins Nr. Plenum Helium produced Helium after 30 days Helium after 60 days Helium after 90 days
volume [cm3] after irradiation of cooling period [mol] of cooling period [mol] of cooling period [mol]
(240.77 days) [mol]
1 5.14 6.03E-4 7.50E-4 8.43E-4 9.37E-4
2 2.33 4.69E-4 5.91E-4 6.68E-4 7.46E-4
3 2.33 4.21E-4 5.30E-4 6.04E-4 6.77E-4
4 1.85 5.53E-4 6.90E-4 7.79E-4 8.68E-4
5 0.83 1.64E-4 2.07E-4 2.35E-4 2.64E-4
 E. D’Agata et al. / Progress in Nuclear Energy 53 (2011) 748e755 755

Table 8
Estimated actinide consumption per pin.

Pins Nr. U [1024 at cm1] Np [1024 at cm1] Pu [1024 at cm1] Am [1024 at cm1] Cm [1024 at cm1]

BOI EOI BOI EOI BOI EOI BOI EOI BOI EOI
Pin 1 8.88E-16 4.58E-07 3.61E-09 1.02E-06 8.35E-08 3.68E-04 1.65E-03 8.05E-04 3.97E-07 3.85E-04
Pin 2 6.68E-16 3.77E-07 3.83E-09 1.29E-06 6.29E-08 3.03E-04 1.75E-03 1.06E-03 2.99E-07 3.21E-04
Pin 3 5.23E-11 3.58E-07 4.05E-09 1.42E-06 1.04E-03 9.87E-04 1.85E-03 1.25E-03 2.59E-07 2.93E-04
Pin 4 7.92E-16 4.24E-07 3.78E-09 1.15E-06 7.45E-08 3.43E-04 1.72E-03 9.41E-04 3.55E-07 3.60E-04
Pin 5 1.58E-10 1.91E-07 1.62E-09 5.96E-07 3.13E-03 2.46E-03 7.37E-04 5.15E-04 9.37E-08 1.08E-04

4. Conclusions developed mainly having in mind the possibility to burn MA in

The HELIOS experiment has been successfully irradiated in the
HFR. The target of 280 fpd was not reached because the HFR had to
be stopped for repair that took more than six months starting in
February 2010. After studying various scenarios, restart after a stop
of 6 months was not considered an option for the EUROTRANS
(AFTRA) partners. Although the experiment has been finished
prematurely (1 cycle too early) the target of the experiment (burn-
up and Helium production) has been probably reached due to
a previously underestimated fluence, a conclusion which is yet to
be confirmed by fluence detector analysis.
Many of the foreseen irradiation conditions have been met even
beyond expectations. The operating temperature of pins contained
in HELIOS1 was correctly reached. Unfortunately, the operating
temperature of pins 2 and 4 contained in HELIOS2 was lower than
foreseen. This is due to the very high temperature reached in pin 5,
also in HELIOS2, which determined the irradiation temperature for
the HELIOS2 sample holder. On the other hand, due to the very high
temperature reached in pin 5, the fuel target contained in that pin
was tested really at its limit. There is considerable interest in results
from irradiation involving Americium oxide dispersed in a Mo
matrix (CerMet) irradiated at an average temperature of
1200e1300  C (fuel temperature).
Another innovative and successful objective was the use of
internal thermocouples in pin 2 and 3. They were directly welded to
the pins monitoring the real fuel temperature in pins 2 and 3. They
have survived the irradiation without problem, with the exception
of decalibration due to neutron irradiation. Once the fluence
detector analysis results are available, an attempt will be made to
correct the thermocouple readings for drift in order to better
evaluate the fuel temperature values. This in turn is expected to
help understand the evolution of the fuel during irradiation
(swelling, release of the gases, burn-up evolution) and will facilitate
validation of fuel performance codes.
Although only the Post-Irradiation Examination conducted on
the CERCER and CERMET target fuel tested during the HELIOS
irradiation experiment will reveal the true performance of the fuel,
the behaviour of such targets during the irradiation did not show
any difficulties. It is possible to conclude that from an operational
point of view, these kinds of fuel targets, which have been
subcritical nuclear system, did not show significant issues.
The expertise acquired in the study of helium release in HELIOS
and earlier experiments are undoubtedly essential to continue on
the way to burn MA to close the fuel cycle.
Acknowledgements
The authors appreciate the support of all the institutions
involved in IP EUROTRANS as well as the financial support of the
European Commission throughout the contract FI6W-CT-2004-
516520.
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