Accident Tolerant Fuels

Edward Obbard,
University of New South Wales.

1 pm Wednesday, 15 August 2018.

AINSE Theatre, New Illawarra Road, Lucas Heights, NSW.

Meeting hosted by ANA.

Abstract:
UNSW and Westinghouse are aiming for commercialisation of a new type of accident-tolerant nuclear fuel made of uranium silicide and chromium-coated zirconium cladding. This will be achieved through targeted materials science discovery to form the basis of a new fuel performance code, required for licensing the fuel. A mechanistic understanding of phase composition, microstructure and heat flow at the fuel-cladding interface will be developed through atomistic modelling of uranium compounds, neutron diffraction techniques recently developed by the chief investigators, and a new gap conductance test rig for validating the thermal model. Global benefits of innovation in accident tolerant nuclear fuel are nuclear safety, energy security and resource efficiency.

About Edward Obbard
Edward Obbard is a Senior Lecturer in Nuclear Engineering. Before moving to UNSW he designed, built and commissioned a new hot cell facility for nuclear materials research at the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation. He obtained his PhD in 2010, at the Chinese Academy of Science Institute of Metal Research, investigating beta-phase titanium alloys by synchrotron X-ray radiation. His speciality is diffraction characterisation of engineering materials, especially in-situ testing. He has worked in industry in laser-powder manufacturing for gas turbine components. Thus his career has spanned the nexus between mechanical, materials and manufacturing engineering, and which he pursues with a focus on nuclear applications for clean energy. He pursues research projects at UNSW on accident tolerant nuclear fuel, nuclear materials, nuclear remote handling systems and nuclear safeguards. He has been cited 656 times with an h-index of 12, and 2 patents.