Critical design considerations for in-pile thermal conductivity experiments on UO2

The calculation of the temperature distribution in UO2 fuel capsules is discussed in section 1. In section 1.1 power rating and its variables such as flux attenuation in the specimen are discussed. In section 1.2. the use of the integrated thermal conductivity is mentioned. Experimental techniques which have been used for In-pile thermal conductivity experiments to measure the power rating are reviewed and discussed in section 2.1. Temperature determination in instrumented capsules and the interpretation of the post-irradiation morphology of UO2 are discussed in section 2.2. In section 3 results from various 1aboratories are compared and some of the factors which influence the measured conductivity are mentioned. A method to estimate the strength
requirements of the cladding is indicated in the appendix. The notes were compelled from the literature on sintered UO₂ available at the en of october 1965.