Analysis of Future Fuel/Cladding Systems for Light Water Reactor Use

事故容忍燃料可能会消除对安全系统的需求，并提供固有的安全性，从而潜在地在核能安全和经济方面带来阶段性变化。一种可能的途径是用含有更多铀的燃料材料来抵消增加的包壳成本，减少所需的浓缩或延长燃料寿命。一些潜在的高密度燃料材料已经被提出，包括U3Si2，UN和UB2，以及通过增加第二相来改进UO2的导热性能。同样，一些包覆层的选择也在考虑之中，包括涂覆的锆合金、FeCrAl合金和碳化硅-碳化硅陶瓷复合材料。这项工作将探索在高温和高温高压水条件下所提出的材料之间的相互作用。它将试图确定长期利益的系统，以及那些不相容的组合。该项目将得到劳斯莱斯作为行业赞助商的支持。

Accident Tolerant Fuels could potentially provide a step-change in nuclear energy safety and economics, by removing the need for safety systems and providing inherent safety. One potential route to this is by offsetting an increased cladding cost with a fuel material containing more uranium, reducing the required enrichment or extending fuel life. A number of potential high-density fuel materials have been proposed including U3Si2, UN and UB2 as well as modifications to UO2 to improve its thermal conductivity via the addition of a secondary phase. Likewise, a number of cladding options are under consideration, including coated zirconium, FeCrAl alloys and SiC-SiC ceramic composites. This work will explore the interactions between proposed materials under high temperatures, and within high-temperature high-pressure water conditions. It will attempt to identify systems of long-term interest, as well as those combinations which are incompatible. The project will be supported by Rolls-Royce as an industrial sponsor.