Thermal conductivity of perspective fuel based on uranium nitride

The comparative analysis of the results obtained by the authors of this paper and the available literature data on the thermal conductivity of uranium mononitride was prepared, analytical review of the thermal properties of mixed uranium-plutonium nitride fuel also was done. The analysis has shown that characteristics such as porosity and amount of impurities (which are determined by fuel fabrication technology) have a significant influence on thermal conductivity of the nitride fuel. Thermal conductivity of mixed uranium-plutonium fuel, in addition, is very sensitive to the content of PuN. The data obtained agree well with those taken from literature sources, and can be reliably described using known correlations. Correlations of thermal conductivity on temperature, porosity and impurity content, presented in this study, can be used to predict fuel behavior.