Enhanced Accident Tolerant Fuel (ATF) Analysis

Project Details

Principal Investigator

Topics:

<p>RNSD staff members (left to right) Jeff Powers, Andy Worrall, and Kevin Robb discussing analyses by ORNL related to enhanced accident-tolerant fuel (ATF) technologies being developed by DOE and industry.</p>

Problem Statement

The US DOE is developing enhanced accident tolerant fuel (ATF) concepts for LWRs that can tolerate loss of active cooling for a longer period of time during severe accident scenarios than UO₂/Zr fuel while maintaining adequate performance during normal operations.

Technical Approach

Assess the neutronic performance of candidate LWR ATF technologies. Identify fuel design parameter combinations including uranium enrichment, cladding thickness, and pellet design that would maintain core power and cycle length for use in existing LWRs.

Benefit

Maintains adequate performance and compatibility with existing infrastructure. Aids LWR ATF technology development efforts by guiding material selection and parameter specifications. Assists evaluation and down-selection of ATF concepts.

Sponsor

Department of Energy - Office of Nuclear Energy (DOE-NE) Advanced Fuels Campaign

Partners

Fusion and Materials for Nuclear Systems Division and Materials Science and Technology Division fuels/materials experts