Shepherd, JS, Fairweather, M, Heggs, PJ et al. (1 more author) (2015) Mathematical modelling of the pre-oxidation of a uranium carbide fuel pellet. Computers and Chemical Engineering, 83. 203 - 213. ISSN 0098-1354
Abstract
Uranium carbide is a candidate fuel for future nuclear reactors. However, for it to be implemented in a closed fuel cycle, an outline for its reprocessing is necessary. One proposed method is to oxidise the uranium carbide into uranium oxide which can then be reprocessed using current infrastructure. A mathematical model describing the heat and mass transfer processes involved in such an oxidation has been constructed. The available literature was consulted for reaction coefficients and information on reaction products. A stable and convergent numerical solution has been developed using a combination of finite-difference approximations of the differential equations. Completion times of approximately 3-30h are predicted given a spherical pellet with a radius of 9.35mm under varying initial conditions. The transient temperature distribution throughout the system is predicted, with a maximum temperature of 1458°C observed from an initial temperature of 500°C at an oxygen concentration of 3.15mol m‾³.
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © 2015, Elsevier. This is an author produced version of a paper accepted for publication in Computers and Chemical Engineering. Uploaded in accordance with the publisher's self-archiving policy. | ||||
Keywords: | Uranium carbide; Oxidation; Finite-difference techniques; Heat and mass transfer | ||||
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Institution: | The University of Leeds | ||||
Academic Units: | The University of Leeds > Faculty of Engineering & Physical Sciences (Leeds) > School of Chemical & Process Engineering (Leeds) > Institute for Particle Science and Engineering (Leeds) | ||||
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Depositing User: | Symplectic Publications | ||||
Date Deposited: | 10 Jun 2015 09:37 | ||||
Last Modified: | 18 May 2016 09:59 | ||||
Published Version: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.compchemeng.2015.05.00... | ||||
Status: | Published | ||||
Publisher: | Elsevier | ||||
Identification Number: | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compchemeng.2015.05.001 |