Metallic Fuels for Advanced Reactors

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

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnucmat.2009.03.007· OSTI ID:962439

Carmack, W J; Porter, D L; Chang, Y J; Hayes, S L; Meyer, M K; Burkes, D E; Lee, C B

In the framework of the Generation IV Sodium Fast Reactor Program the Advanced Fuel Project has conducted an evaluation of the available fuel systems supporting future sodiumcooled fast reactors. This paper presents an evaluation of metallic alloy fuels. Fast reactor development programs have been conducted over the past five decades. Early U.S. fast reactor developers originally favored metal alloy fuel due to its high fissile density and compatibility with sodium. As metal alloy fuels continued to be developed it was discovered that low smear density allowed for the fuel to operate to much higher burnup. The goal of fuel development programs for future fast reactors is to develop and qualify for operation, a nuclear fuel system that performs all of the functions of a conventional fast spectrum nuclear fuel while destroying recycled actinides. This fuel would provide a mechanism for closure of the nuclear fuel cycle. Metal fuels are candidates under consideration for this application, based on documented performance of metallic fast reactor fuels and the early results of fuel tests currently being conducted in U.S. and international transmutation fuel development programs.

• Research Organization: Idaho National Laboratory (INL)
• Sponsoring Organization: DOE - NE
• DOE Contract Number: AC07-99ID13727
• OSTI ID: 962439
• Report Number(s): INL/JOU-09-15314
• 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
ACTINIDES
ALLOYS
BURNUP
CLOSURES
COMPATIBILITY
EVALUATION
FAST REACTORS
FUEL SYSTEMS
Metallic Fast Reactor Fuel
NUCLEAR FUELS
PERFORMANCE
SODIUM
TRANSMUTATION