High Performance Fuel Design for Next Generation PWRs: Final Report

Abstract

This summary provides an overview of the results of the U.S. DOE funded NERI (Nuclear Research Energy Initiative) program on development of the internally and externally cooled annular fuel for high power density PWRs. This new fuel was proposed by MIT to allow a substantial increase in power density (on the order of 30% or higher) while maintaining or improving safety margins. A comprehensive study was performed by a team consisting of MIT (lead organization), Westinghouse Electric Corporation, Gamma Engineering Corporation, Framatome ANP (formerly Duke Engineering) and Atomic Energy of Canada Limited. The study involved the evaluation of the new fuel in terms of thermal hydraulic, neutronics, fuel performance including first scoping irradiation tests at the MIT reactor, fuel manufacturing and economics.