Nuclear Fuel Research & Development
The potential growth in nuclear power has resulted in a renewed interest in alternative nuclear fuel cycles. The goal of SNRI's Nuclear Fuels group is to discover and develop improved nuclear fuel resource utilization, maximize energy generation, minimize waste, improve safety, and limit proliferation risk. SNRI has categorized the nuclear fuel cycle into 2 distinct categories which serve as a launch pad for nuclear fuel R&D. These 2 categories are titled the Modified Open Approach, and the Full Recycle Approach.
The SNRI Nuclear Fuels group seeks to develop innovative and transformational options within each of the fuel cycle strategies, leading to the research, development, and demonstration (RD&D) of the best options.
Modified Open Fuel Cycle
Central to the choice of fuel cycle is the question of what considerations or criteria should be used as a basis to make long-term fuel cycle decisions. This criteria ranges from economics to environment, safety to nonproliferation, etc. SNRI investigates fuel forms and reactor types that would increase resource utilization and reduce the quantity of long-lived radiotoxic elements in the used fuel to be disposed, with limited or no separation steps, using technologies with limited proliferation risk.
>> Read MoreFull Recycle Fuel Cycle
SNRI develops techniques that enable the long-lived actinide elements to be repeatedly recycled rather than disposed. The ultimate goal is to develop a cost-effective and low proliferation risk approach that will dramatically decrease the long-term risk posed by the waste and reducing uncertainties associated with its disposal.
Key to this research is the Tomographic (X-Ray) Faciliites at SNRI.
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Tomographic Research
SNRI is advancing non-destricutive tomographic (X-Ray) techniques for irradiated fuel assemblies. SNRI is observing fuel pin deformations which have been irradiated at high linear heat ratings. The central void sizes in all fuel pins were measured on five cross sections of the core fuel column as a parameter for evaluating fuel thermal performance. Click here to learn more how SNRI's X-Ray facility is leading the globe into the next generation of fuel.
>> Read MoreInspection & X-Rays
The current use of manual inspection by fuel vendors for quality control of the fabricated fuel pellets is not only-time consuming but also exposes the inspection staff to limited radiation. SNRI is developing an automated, real-time fuel rod inspection technique for better speed and accuracy using an X-Ray tomographic inspection technique to detect anomolies.
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