Westinghouse’s Accident Tolerant Fuels Program – from modeling to manufacturing and operation

Dr Simon Middleburgh,
Lead Fuel Development Engineer,
Westinghouse Sweden.

Monday 24 July 2017
6:00 pm – 7:30 pm

Room LG05, Tyree Energy Technology Building, UNSW Kensington Campus

Hosted by: Nuclear Engineering Panel and UNSW Nuclear Engineering

Abstract:
Westinghouse is developing the latest generation of nuclear fuels often labelled as accident tolerant fuels (ATFs). These fuels are not only characterized by their superior tolerance to both design basis accidents and beyond design basis accidents, but also their significant improvement in terms of economy to operate. Leading candidates in Westinghouse’s ATF effort include U3Si2 and UN fuels, clad within coated
Zr-based alloys or SiC-SiC composites. Test reactor data, being gathered in an international effort supported by a number of organizations including the IAEA, is being complimented with modelling work in order to efficiently license these new fuels for operation in the world’s light water reactor fleet. Modelling methods such as atomic scale simulation is being used to develop material models that can be validated with experimental data – hence provide a mechanistic framework to perform fuel rod analysis.

The Australian Nuclear Association Inc (ANA) is an independent incorporated scientific institution which promotes the education, knowledge and practice of the peaceful, safe and effective use of nuclear science and technology to benefit people, science and the environment.

ANA supports the use of nuclear science and technology in Australia, including nuclear techniques in research, industry and medicine; research reactors as a source of neutrons for research and production of radioisotopes; nuclear power plants to produce electricity and the use nuclear power for marine propulsion.

ANA strongly supports the use of nuclear power plants as reliable, affordable and low carbon generators of electricity and as a low carbon source of heat for industry. Adding nuclear energy to Australia’s energy future will help meet our international obligations on carbon emissions, improve energy security and contribute to our economic future. Australia can benefit from current and emerging advanced reactor designs as well as from the considerable international experience accumulated in regulating and operating nuclear power plants, taking into account safety, environmental, technical, economic and social factors. The ANA supports the removal of Federal and State legislative nuclear prohibitions so that nuclear energy can be considered on its merits.

ANA strongly supports establishment of a national radioactive waste management facility for the management of intermediate level radioactive waste and the disposal of low level radioactive waste from all Commonwealth agencies as well from the States and Territories.