Determination of Minor Actinides in Irradiated Fuel Rod Components

The measurement and simulation of several isotopes, in particular C-14 and Cs-137 in components of an irradiated PWR fuel rod segment, is presented. The current research deals with minor actinides (MA) inventory within the Zry-4 cladding. The relevance of MA for the fuel waste is evident; being important long lived radio-toxic contributors besides long lived fission and activation products. The current study shows that the amount of minor actinides is only partially due to traces of uranium entering, during the manufacturing process, to the cladding. The major concentration of MA is found on the inner surface of the cladding and is corollary to friction between pellets and the inner surface of the cladding during the fabrication of fuel rods.