ATF Benchmark Problems

Abstract

The events at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant on March 2011 propelled the research and development of accident-tolerant fuel (ATF) for use in nuclear power plants. After these events, the United States Senate Appropriations Committee requested a report from the United States Department of Energy (DOE) regarding DOE’s plan for developing ATF. In DOE’s development plan, a 10-year effort beginning in 2012 was outlined from Phase 1 feasibility studies through Phase 3 commercialization with a lead test assembly (LTA) or a lead fuel rod (LFR) to be ready for insertion into a reactor by 2022. In fiscal year 2018, the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) expressed an interest in using the DOE Office of Nuclear Energy (NE) advanced modeling and simulation (M&S) tools to evaluate advanced fuel concepts such as ATF. This interest evolved into a formal cooperation between DOE and NRC to ensure that an effective M&S capability is available for NRC analyses of ATF concepts. Over the last 10 years, the DOE-funded Energy Innovation Hub, also known as the Consortium for Advanced Simulation of Light Water Reactors (CASL), has developed, applied and deployed advanced M&S capabilities to enhance the operational performance, efficiency, and safety of light water reactors (LWRs). Due to the aging US nuclear fleet, CASL was initiated to improve the efficiency of nuclear power production, lower costs by enhancing the understanding of fuel performance and residence time in the nuclear reactor, enhance safety by studying new fuels that can endure severe conditions, and extend the life of existing reactors by predicting the lifetimes of key structural components