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Design of a High-Assay Low-Enriched Uranium Tri-Structural Isotropic Critical Experiment for Advanced Reactor Validation

Journal Article · · Nuclear Technology
 [1];  [1];  [1];  [1];  [1];  [1];  [1];  [1];  [1];  [1];  [1]
  1. Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
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High-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) fuel is a key component of many small modular reactor designs. Critical experiments are an important way to understand the neutronic performance of systems by obtaining nuclear data validations through measurements. Data reduce uncertainty and risk by showing that systems respond as predicted to changes such as temperature, subsequently advancing the overall technology readiness level of the materials within. Numerous critical experiments have been performed at the National Criticality Experiments Research Center (NCERC) operated by Los Alamos National Laboratory at the Nevada National Security Site since it became operational in 2011. However, the first experiment with HALEU fuel did not occur until 2024. Through extensive engineering, the experiment described in this paper was successfully designed and executed for the Comet vertical lift assembly at NCERC to perform measurements with HALEU tri-structural isotropic fuel that will assist in validation of nuclear data and computational modeling of small modular reactors for years to come.

Research Organization:
Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD) Program
Grant/Contract Number:
89233218CNA000001
OSTI ID:
2570754
Report Number(s):
LA-UR--25-20169; 10.1080/00295450.2025.2504149; 1943-7471
Journal Information:
Nuclear Technology, Journal Name: Nuclear Technology; ISSN 0029-5450; ISSN 1943-7471
Publisher:
Taylor & FrancisCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

References (5)

Coated particle fuel: Historical perspectives and current progress journal March 2019
Kilopower Project: The KRUSTY Fission Power Experiment and Potential Missions journal June 2020
The Hypatia Experiment: Yttrium Hydride and Highly Enriched Uranium Critical Experiment journal April 2022
A New Era of Nuclear Criticality Experiments: The First 10 Years of Comet Operations at NCERC journal October 2021
Compact Nuclear Power Source Critical Experiments and Analysis journal November 1989

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Related Subjects

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS
Deimos critical experiment
High-assay low-enriched uranium
TRISO
nuclear data