Metallic Fast Reactor Fuel Fabrication for Global Nuclear Energy Partnership

Journal Article · Wed Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 2009 · Journal of Nuclear Materials

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnucmat.2009.03.009· OSTI ID:957508

Burkes, Douglas E; Fielding, Randall S; Porter, Douglas L

Fast reactors are once again being considered for nuclear power generation, in addition to transmutation of long-lived fission products resident in spent nuclear fuels. This re-consideration follows with intense developmental programs for both fuel and reactor design. One of the two leading candidates for next generation fast reactor fuel is metal alloys, resulting primarily from the successes achieved in the 1960s to early 1990s with both the experimental breeding reactor-II and the fast flux test facility. The goal of the current program is to develop and qualify a nuclear fuel system that performs all of the functions of a conventional, fast-spectrum nuclear fuel while destroying recycled actinides, thereby closing the nuclear fuel cycle. In order to meet this goal, the program must develop efficient and safe fuel fabrication processes designed for remote operation. This paper provides an overview of advanced casting processes investigated in the past, and the development of a gaseous diffusion calculation that demonstrates how straightforward process parameter modification can mitigate the loss of volatile minor actinides in the metal alloy melt.

• Research Organization: Idaho National Laboratory (INL)
• Sponsoring Organization: DOE - NE
• DOE Contract Number: AC07-99ID13727
• OSTI ID: 957508
• Report Number(s): INL/JOU-08-14331
• Journal Information: Journal of Nuclear Materials, Journal Name: Journal of Nuclear Materials Journal Issue: 2 Vol. 392; ISSN 0022-3115; ISSN JNUMAM
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS
ACTINIDES
ALLOYS
BREEDING
CASTING
DESIGN
FABRICATION
FAST REACTORS
FFTF REACTOR
FISSION PRODUCTS
GASEOUS DIFFUSION
Global Nuclear Energy Partnership
MODIFICATIONS
NUCLEAR ENERGY
NUCLEAR FUELS
NUCLEAR POWER
TRANSMUTATION
metallic fast reactor
nuclear fuel cycle