MIDAS - Mechanistic understanding of Irradiation Damage in fuel Assemblies

为了实现英国的碳减排目标，并实现产生更少二氧化碳的能源组合，我们必须继续研究使核能更清洁，更便宜和更安全的方法。与此同时，随着欣克利角C等新反应堆的建成，英国需要培养能够运营、监管和解决民用核能技术问题的劳动力，以利用我们在核能方面的投资。在这方面，重要的是，英国目前主要运行的是旧的先进的气冷反应堆，这与英国下一批核电站有着根本的不同，这些核电站将是轻水反应堆。就该研究项目而言，这一变化的关键在于锆是轻水堆中首选的燃料包壳材料。核反应堆的主要部分是燃料组件-封装高放射性核燃料的结构。了解用于制造这些组件的材料的性能对于安全、有效的操作至关重要，并且它们必须能够在正常操作、处理和储存期间保持其结构，以及在不太可能发生的事故中存活，当它们成为防止放射性材料泄漏的关键时。由于需要尽可能安全地运行核反应堆，燃料通常在耗尽之前就被移除，因为我们目前对燃料组件材料的了解还不够，因此必须采取高度谨慎的安全第一的方法。然而，这确实意味着运行反应堆的成本更高，因为组件必须在所有燃料消耗之前更换，这也意味着组件然后-过早-成为额外的核废料，必须安全地处理和储存，成本更高。通过更好地了解组件材料在辐照时的性能，我们将能够做出更准确的安全案例，这将意味着燃料组件可以使用更长的时间而没有额外的风险。这些知识将使英国能够更有效地运营下一代反应堆，大大降低核电成本。这一点尤其重要，因为英国将拥有轻水反应堆，而不是先进的气冷反应堆，燃料组件及其材料将发生根本性变化。这项研究工作也将使其他使用核能的国家受益匪浅，这将使英国成为该领域的专业中心。这将进一步吸引英国的研发投资，在清洁能源的同时创造未来的财富和就业机会。该项目的第二个关键主题是探索锆合金在未来聚变反应堆关键部件中的应用。联合王国在确定国际热核实验堆和演示实验室国际聚变项目所选用的材料方面处于领先地位，这一主题将有助于维持联合王国作为聚变研究卓越中心的声誉。

In order to meet the UK's carbon reduction targets, and achieve an energy mix that produces less CO2, we must continue to investigate ways in which to make nuclear power cleaner, cheaper and safer. At the same time, as new reactors such as Hinkley Point C are built, the UK needs to develop the work force who will operate, regulate and solve technical problems in civil nuclear power, in order to capitalise on our investment in nuclear energy. Important in this respect is that the UK currently operates mainly old advanced gas-cooled reactors, fundamentally different from the next fleet of UK nuclear power stations, which will be light-water reactors. Key to this change, in terms of this research project, is that Zirconium is a preferred fuel cladding material in LWRs.A major part of a nuclear reactor is the fuel assembly - the structure that encapsulates the highly radioactive nuclear fuel. Understanding the performance of the materials used to make these assemblies is critical for safe, efficient operation, and they must be able to maintain their structure during normal operation, handling and storage, as well as survive in the unlikely event of an accident, when they become crucial in preventing the escape of radioactive materials. Because of the need to operate nuclear reactors as safely as possible, fuel is often removed well before it is spent, as we currently do not know enough about fuel assembly materials, so must adopt a highly cautious, safety-first approach. This does mean, however, that it is more costly to run a reactor, as assemblies must be replaced well before all the fuel is consumed, and this also means the assembly then - prematurely - becomes additional nuclear waste, which must be safely handed and stored, at further high cost.By gaining greater understanding of how assembly materials perform when irradiated, we will be able to make more accurate safety cases, which will mean that fuel assemblies can be used for longer periods without additional risk. Such knowledge will enable the UK to operate the next generation of reactors far more efficiently, significantly reducing the cost of nuclear power. This is particularly important now, given that the UK is going to have light-water, instead of advanced gas-cooled, reactors, and with it the fuel assembly and its material will change very fundamentally.This research effort will also significantly benefit other countries using nuclear energy, which will establish the UK as a centre of expertise in the area. This will further attract inward investment in research and development in the UK, creating future wealth and employment alongside cleaner energy.A second key theme of the project will be to explore the use of zirconium alloys in critical components for future fusion reactors. The UK has a leading position in defining the materials that will be chosen for the ITER and DEMO international fusion projects, and this theme will contribute to maintaining the UK's reputation as a centre of excellence in fusion research.