Innovative Accident Tolerant Fuel Materials May Help Extending the Life of Light Water Reactors: A Perspective

Journal Article · 22 December 2022 · Corrosion

DOI:https://doi.org/10.5006/4181· OSTI ID:2418370

Rebak, Raul B. ^[1]

---

1. OSTI

One of the main sources of clean electricity in the civilian power grid comes from light water reactors (LWRs). Some of these LWRs are being decommissioned prematurely because they may not be economically sustainable. It is proposed that the use of accident-tolerant fuel concepts may enable for LWR plant operation extension by making them safer and more economically competitive to operate. For example, the use of iron-chromium-aluminum (FeCrAl) alloys for the cladding of the fuel would not only reduce the risk of catastrophic reaction between the cladding and its environment in the case of a loss of coolant accident situation but also, for example, allow for higher fuel burnup during normal plant operation.

• Research Organization: GE Packaged Power, LLC, Houston, TX (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Nuclear Energy (NE)
• DOE Contract Number: NE0009047
• OSTI ID: 2418370
• Journal Information: Corrosion, Journal Name: Corrosion Journal Issue: 3 Vol. 79; ISSN 0010-9312
• Publisher: NACE International
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

Materials Science
Metallurgy & Metallurgical Engineering