Uranium zirconium hydride (UZrH), a combination of
uranium hydride
Uranium hydride, also called uranium trihydride (UH3), is an inorganic compound and a hydride of uranium.
Properties
Uranium hydride is a highly toxic, brownish grey to brownish black pyrophoric powder or brittle solid. Its density at 20 ° ...
and
zirconium(II) hydride
Zirconium(II) hydride, ZrH2 is a molecular chemical compound which has been prepared by laser ablation and isolated at low temperature.
Zirconium(II) hydride has repeatedly been the subject of Dirac– Hartree–Fock relativistic calculation st ...
, is used as the fuel in
TRIGA
TRIGA (Training, Research, Isotopes, General Atomics) is a class of nuclear research reactor designed and manufactured by General Atomics. The design team for TRIGA, which included Edward Teller, was led by the physicist Freeman Dyson.
Design
...
reactors. UZrH fuel is used in most research reactors at universities and has a large, prompt negative
fuel temperature coefficient of reactivity Fuel temperature coefficient of reactivity is the change in reactivity of the nuclear fuel per degree change in the fuel temperature. The coefficient quantifies the amount of neutrons that the nuclear fuel (such as uranium-238) absorbs from the fi ...
, meaning that as the temperature of the core increases, the reactivity rapidly decreases.
Franco-Belge de Fabrication du Combustible
FBFC (''Franco-Belge de Fabrication du Combustible'', French-Belgian fabrication of fuel) is a nuclear fuel producing company. From 1977 onwards its headquarters are located in Romans-sur-Isère. It operates a further two facilities, one at the T ...
, in
Romans-sur-Isère
Romans-sur-Isère (; Occitan: ''Rumans d'Isèra''; Old Occitan: ''Romans'') is a commune in the Drôme department in southeastern France.
Geography
Romans-sur-Isère is located on the Isère, northeast of Valence. There are more than 50,00 ...
, France, is the only manufacturer of this fuel.
References
External links
Technical Foundations of TRIGA: Thermalization In Zirconium Hydride
TRIGA
TRIGA (Training, Research, Isotopes, General Atomics) is a class of nuclear research reactor designed and manufactured by General Atomics. The design team for TRIGA, which included Edward Teller, was led by the physicist Freeman Dyson.
Design
...
{{DEFAULTSORT:Uranium zirconium hydride
Isotope separation
Nuclear fuels
Nuclear materials
Uranium