Microreactor Fuel Cycle Design

Journal Article · Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2026 · Nuclear Engineering and Design

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nucengdes.2025.114577· OSTI ID:3014029

Mohammad Al Dawood, Khaldoon Ali ^[1]; Golden, Davis William ^[1]; Mohammad Jaradat, Mustafa Kamel ^[1]

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1. Idaho National Laboratory

Microreactor (MR) technology have recently gained traction due to their reduced construction cost compared to traditional large reactors. Their small physical geometry results in increased neutron leakage and deteriorated neutron economy which limits the achievable burnup of MR fuel. Refueling strategy currently discussed in MR design community is the battery-like refueling which is involve replacing the entire reactor core at the end of their operational cycle. This paper investigates partial core refueling as means to increase MR fuel burnup and improve fuel cycle economy as a result. Two fuel cycle design strategies have been successful. These are the partial core refueling and partial core refueling combined with assembly rotation. Both strategies have been tested to operate a heatpipe-cooled MR referred to as the eVinci-like core for 72 Effective Full Power Months (EFPMs). The partial core refueling showed to reduce the refueling requirements by 18% compared to the battery-like refueling strategy. This corresponds to 10.5% reduction in the Net Present Value (NPV) of fuel cost over the 72 EFPMs of operation. The partial core refueling combined with rotation case reduces the refueling requirements by 29% (corresponding to 14.5% reduction in NPV of fuel cost) compared to the battery-like refueling strategy.

• Research Organization: Idaho National Laboratory (INL), Idaho Falls, ID (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Nuclear Energy (NE)
• Grant/Contract Number: AC07-05ID14517
• OSTI ID: 3014029
• Report Number(s): INL/JOU-25-86410
• Journal Information: Nuclear Engineering and Design, Journal Name: Nuclear Engineering and Design Journal Issue: 0 Vol. 446
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

11 - NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
Fuel cost
Heat-pipe reactor
Microreactor
nuclear fuel cycle