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Overview of LWR Accident Tolerant Fuel Development in the United States

Journal Article · · Transactions of the American Nuclear Society
OSTI ID:22992052
;  [1]
  1. Idaho National Laboratory, P.O. Box 1625, Idaho Falls, Idaho 83415-2528 (United States)
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has conducted research and development (R and D) for enhanced, accident tolerant fuels (ATF) for light water reactors (LWRs) since 2012. The recently released Road-map to Congress for 'Development of Light Water Reactor Fuels with Enhanced Accident Tolerance' establishes the attributes that are desired for fuels that will exhibit enhanced accident tolerance and defines a path forward for the necessary R and D activities that will result in a lead fuel rod (LFR) or assembly (LFA) insertion in an operating, commercial LWR by 2022 to demonstrate the possibility of these advanced technologies. The aggressive development timeline is directed by Congressional language in the Senate Appropriations Committee Report (Senate Report 112-75), included in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2012 Energy and Water Development Appropriations Bill. ATF development is intended to be impactful to the current fleet of LWRs and future Generation III+ reactors. The development, future licensing and utility adoption of ATF technology will empower development of advanced technologies with safety significance. The work has progressed significantly since 2012, with multiple fuel and cladding concepts currently undergoing fundamental R and D including in-pile irradiation and out-of-pile testing to measure fundamental properties and to demonstrate performance under expected conditions. (authors)
OSTI ID:
22992052
Journal Information:
Transactions of the American Nuclear Society, Journal Name: Transactions of the American Nuclear Society Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 114; ISSN 0003-018X
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English