Advanced Nuclear Fuel Examined at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Researchers at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory are now examining advanced nuclear fuel developed by GE Vernova, which could potentially boost nuclear power plant performance and reduce the quantity of spent nuclear fuel. The fuel assemblies were recently shipped to the lab after six years in a commercial reactor as part of the U.S. Department of Energy's Accident Tolerant Fuel program. This examination marks a significant milestone in the development of higher efficiency fuels that are safer and more reliable.

Key Takeaways:

• GE Vernova's advanced nuclear fuel was developed as part of the U.S. Department of Energy's Accident Tolerant Fuel program, which aims to improve fuel cycle economics through lower operational costs and improved plant safety.
• The fuel assemblies were loaded into a commercial reactor for two 24-month cycles of operation and were later relicensed and reinserted into the reactor for continued exposure.
• The fuel pellets inside the rods contain gadolinium, which absorbs neutrons to improve the utilization of the fissile content in the fuel throughout the fuel cycle.
• The examination of the fuel rods at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory is expected to provide valuable insights into the performance of high burnup fuels and their potential to enable power uprates at existing power plants.
• This project supports the Trump Administration's executive order to facilitate five gigawatts of power uprates at existing power plants by 2030.
• High burnup fuels could generate less waste over the life of the reactor and enable power uprates that would further support one of President Trump's recent executive orders.
• GE Vernova is developing several advanced fuel products through the Department's Accident Tolerant Fuel program to improve fuel cycle economics.
• Pacific Northwest National Laboratory will conduct post-irradiation experiments on the high burnup assemblies over the next several years to support the development, engineering, and licensing efforts of the company's fuel.
• Similar work is also being conducted on the company's high burnup fuel at Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

Statistics:

• The fuel assemblies were in a commercial reactor for six years as part of the U.S. Department of Energy's Accident Tolerant Fuel program.
• The fuel rods shipped to Pacific Northwest National Laboratory include full length and partial length rods, a feature unique to boiling water reactor fuels.
• The assemblies were removed from the reactor in 2023 and recently shipped to PNNL for examination.
• The examination of these rods is expected to provide valuable insights into the performance of high burnup fuels over several years.
• The Trump Administration's executive order aims to facilitate five gigawatts of power uprates at existing power plants by 2030.
• High burnup fuels could generate 15% less waste over the life of the reactor compared to traditional fuels.

Sources:

• U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Nuclear Energy
• Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
• GE Vernova
• Energy.gov article: "National Lab Starts Examination of GE Vernova's Advanced Nuclear Fuel"