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.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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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 |
Dates: |
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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) |
Funding Information: | Funder Grant number EU - European Union 295825 |
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: | 10.1016/j.compchemeng.2015.05.001 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:86908 |