Models for the release from fuel of Ce, La, Sr, and Eu in accident conditions

During a hypothetical severe nuclear accident involving a pressurised water reactor, it is of primary importance to assess the potential radionuclide releases into the environment. With that view in mind, analytical models have been developed for the release kinetics from fuel of four low-volatile fission products (namely cerium, lanthanum, strontium, and europium) in severe accident conditions. The vaporisation of those fission products from fuel has been evaluated by means of thermodynamic equilibrium calculations. The effects of the fuel temperature and the oxygen potential on the chemical form and volatility of the fission products have been determined. Finally, these models have been integrated in the ASTEC and have been subsequently validated against annealing experiments with various oxidizing and reducing conditions.