Fuel Qualification Guidance for Metal Fuel

Image of a metal fuel assembly

The Experimental Breeder Reactor (EBR)-II’s operation (1964 -1994) demonstrated important objectives for establishing metallic fuel as a viable power reactor.  EBR-II provided the collection of irradiated pins and corresponding post-irradiation examinations resulting in an unmatched database for understanding irradiated metallic fuel behavior, which can be found in the Fuel Irradiation and Phyics Database (FIPD).

Document Description Type
General
Metal Fuel Fabrication Safety and Hazards - Final Report Summary of uranium metal and alloy processing hazards and experience drawn from a literature review contractor report
NUREG/CR-XXXX, “Assessment of Metal Fuel Using NUREG-2246.” Idaho National Laboratory has been contracted by the NRC to develop a report that exercises the framework presented in NUREG-2246, “Fuel Qualification for Advanced Reactors, Final,” for a generic metal fuel (based on available EBR‑II fuel data). [Expected first quarter 2023] contractor report
TerraPower
Advanced SFR Fuel Assembly Qualification Plan

The second submittal of the Advanced Fuel Qualification Methodology Report

Objective:To confirm all aspects of the fuel assembly design and fabrication process will provide reliable and safe operation of an advanced Sodium-cooled Fast Reactor (SFR) where advanced metallic fuel pins will be used

white paper
Advanced Fuel Qualification Methodology Report-Regulatory Guidance Development Report Provides generic regulatory guidance for qualification of metallic fuel for Sodium-cooled Fast Reactors (SFRs) white paper
TerraPower-Type 1 Fuel Pin Qualification Plan

The third submittal of the Advanced Fuel Qualification Methodology Report

Primary objectives:

  1. Adequately review and identify fuel-related needs required for license application to support development of a high-level schedule and budget for those activities
  2. Provide enough detail on the planned activities so that independent reviews can be performed to verify the adequacy of the plans to address technical risks and regulatory needs
white paper