Modelling the Oxidation of Spent Uranium Carbide Fuel

Uranium/mixed carbide fuels are a candidate fuel for future nuclear reactors. However, in order to be implemented, a clear outline for their reprocessing must be formed so as to reduce the volume of nuclear waste produced as much as possible. One proposed method is to oxidise the uranium carbide into uranium oxide which can then be reprocessed using current infrastructure. A mathematical model has been constructed to simulate such an oxidation from a combination of finite-difference approximations of the relevant equations describing the heat and mass transfer processes involved. Available literature was consulted for reaction coefficients and information on reaction products, however the behaviour of the produced oxide is uncertain. The model was built accounting for this uncertainty and the resultant predictions will assist in characterising the proposed reprocessing method for carbide fuels.