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Fully ceramic microencapsulated fuels: Characteristics and potential LWR applications

  • Jeffrey J. Powers
  • , Andrew Worrall
  • , Kurt A. Terrani
  • , Jess C. Gehin
  • , Lance L. Snead
  • Oak Ridge National Laboratory

Research output: Contribution to conferencePaperpeer-review

6 Scopus citations

Abstract

This paper summarizes the characteristics of the fully ceramic microencapsulated (FCM) fuel concept and two potential light water reactor (LWR) applications of FCM fuels: for actinide management and as an accident tolerant fuel (ATF). Recent progress in FCM fuel development includes production of uranium mononitride kernels, fabrication of FCM pellets and pins, and irradiation testing of matrix samples and FCM pellets. Potential applications of FCM fuel in LWRs appear promising based upon studies performed by several organizations; however, further efforts are needed to investigate various design aspects in further detail and explore promising new areas of research such as new fuel pin and assembly designs or alternate materials of interest. Current challenges in FCM fuel development and LWR applications for FCM fuels include low heavy metal fuel loading densities and increased uncertainties in analysis due to several different factors. Overall, LWR FCM concepts appear feasible for both actinide management and as an ATF.

Original languageEnglish
StatePublished - 2014
Event2014 International Conference on Physics of Reactors, PHYSOR 2014 - Kyoto, Japan
Duration: Sep 28 2014Oct 3 2014

Conference

Conference2014 International Conference on Physics of Reactors, PHYSOR 2014
Country/TerritoryJapan
CityKyoto
Period09/28/1410/3/14

Keywords

  • Accident tolerant fuel
  • Actinide management
  • ATF
  • FCM
  • Light water reactor
  • LWR

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