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ARC-100 Reactor Security-by-Design Summary 2025

This report applies the security-by-design methodology developed in a previous National Nuclear Security Administration–sponsored work to the ARC-100, a sodium-cooled fast reactor (SFR) being developed by ARC Clean Technology, Inc (ARC). The report contains no proprietary information specific to the ARC 100 reactor. The insights developed in this report are high-level, and generally applicable to other sodium fast reactor designs. The information presented here is the result of a qualitative safety-based analysis and would not inform any potential adversary beyond what would be found in a docketed safety analysis report. The scope of this present report covers ARC-100’s reactor core, used fuel storage, used fuel assembly wash station, cesium trap, sodium cold trap, noble gas decay tanks, used fuel dry storage facility, damaged fuel storage facility, and radioactive waste building. These systems are also compared to a generic SFR design assumed in the previous study. The security assessment results show changes in structures, systems, and components (SSCs) safety importance relative to the generic SFR SSCs. Several SSCs have higher importance rankings than others, and it is recommended that protection efforts are prioritized for these SSCs. Results from this work will furnish a technical justification for the feasibility of these solutions for the ARC reactor's design and, where applicable, identify any regulatory benefits conferred by the proactive design aspect within a risk management framework. This initiative will contribute to a more secure design of the ARC reactor and support its licensing process.

21 - SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLAN↗

Determination of oxidation rates and volatile oxidation products for HTGR graphite matrix material exposed to steam atmospheres

High-temperature gas-cooled reactors (HTGRs) in operation use tristructural isotropic (TRISO) particles embedded in graphite and carbonized resin matrix to form the fuel element. This graphite matrix material serves as a supportive structural element, heat transfer medium, and neutron moderator. In HTGR designs, fuel compacts are exposed to helium coolant, which facilitates high outlet temperatures (750°C 2 O, 800°C 2 , and H 2 , are quantified in varied oxidant atmospheres using a coupled thermogravimetric analyzer and mass spectrometer. Furthermore, oxidation rates reported here for varied steam (H 2 O [g]) atmospheres are predominantly linear and comparable with literature values in the range of tested temperatures (800–1200°C). Changes in dominant matrix oxidation products from primarily CO to a mixture of CO, CO 2 , and H 2 were observed at higher temperatures (≥1000°C) and steam atmospheres (≥5 kPa pH 2 O). Kinetic data indicates that there was no shift in oxidation regime with chemical oxidation occurring at all temperatures and H2O (g) atmospheres tested. These data provide insight into the oxidation behavior of graphite matrix material and will inform future testing conditions, notably mixed atmospheric conditions, of HTGR fuel elements.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Estimation of the Thermal-Fluids and Thermal-Structural Performance of Helium-Cooled Modular Finger-Type Divertors

Over the past decade, our group has investigated the thermal-fluid performance of the helium-cooled modular divertor with multiple jets (HEMJ) and a simplified “flat” design of the HEMJ for long-pulse magnetic fusion energy (MFE) reactors. Experimental studies were performed in a helium (He) loop at the prototypical pressure of 10 MPa, nearly prototypical He temperatures and incident heat fluxes using test sections made from stainless steel and tungsten alloys. Correlations for average Nusselt numbers and pressure loss coefficients were developed from the data and are used to validate computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models. Here, this work presents updated thermal-fluids performance curves based on these correlations that estimate the maximum heat flux that can be accommodated by the plasma-facing surface and coolant pumping power requirements at prototypical operating conditions. Thermal-structural performance curves developed from ITER structural design criteria are introduced, which include protection against ductile and non-ductile failure, ratcheting fatigue, and creep fatigue. The performance design curves for these finger-type divertors demonstrate that the “flat” design, with a significantly less complicated geometry than the HEMJ, has thermal-fluid and thermal-structural performance comparable to the original HEMJ concept, and may be superior in terms of non-ductile failure criteria.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Heavy ion irradiation response of an additively manufactured 316LN stainless steel

Additive manufacturing has become an appealing technique to fabricate three-dimensional metallic materials and components for nuclear reactors. However, response of additively manufactured alloys to high-dose heavy ion irradiations at elevated temperatures is still not well understood. Here, an additively manufactured 316LN austenitic stainless steel with high-density solidification cells was irradiated using 3.5 MeV Fe ion to a peak dose of 220 dpa at 450 °C. Microscopy studies show a lower Frank loop density and smaller size in the additively manufactured sample compared with its cold worked counterpart, and the cellular structures may largely suppress the formation of perfect loops and dislocation networks and reduce the magnitude of solute segregations comparing with high angle grain boundaries. In conclusion, the present work advances the understanding on the high-temperature irradiation response of additively manufactured steels for nuclear reactor applications.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Engineering Considerations for Remote Refabrication of EBR-II Fuel Elements

The development of remote controlled methods for manufacturing EBR-II fuel elements was influenced by many interacting factors. Radiation levels within the process cell have been predicted to range from 10 3 to 10 7 rad per hour. Radiation damage to organic lubricant, electrical insulations, elastic seals, and protective coatings precludes the use of many standard machine components. Heat generated in the fuel by absorbed radiation makes forced cooling necessary in many operations. Oxygen must be exluded from all operations where the fuel is exposed. Equipment must be designed for remote maintenance and component replacement within the limitation of available manipulators. The EBR-II fuel consisted of fissium alloy pins sodium bonded in stainless steel tubes. Precision casting was chosen as the basis for refabricating the fuel pins. Remote controlled equipment was developed to cast, assemble, and inspect the EBR-II fuel elements. Radiation resistant, plug-in machine components were developed to give reasonable life expectancy and to allow remote maintenance and replacement.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗

High aspect ratio catalytic reactor and catalyst inserts therefor

The present invention relates to high efficient tubular catalytic steam reforming reactor configured from about 0.2 inch to about 2 inch inside diameter high temperature metal alloy tube or pipe and loaded with a plurality of rolled catalyst inserts comprising metallic monoliths. The catalyst insert substrate is formed from a single metal foil without a central supporting structure in the form of a spiral monolith. The single metal foil is treated to have 3-dimensional surface features that provide mechanical support and establish open gas channels between each of the rolled layers. This unique geometry accelerates gas mixing and heat transfer and provides a high catalytic active surface area. The small diameter, high aspect ratio tubular catalytic steam reforming reactors loaded with rolled catalyst inserts can be arranged in a multi-pass non-vertical parallel configuration thermally coupled with a heat source to carry out steam reforming of hydrocarbon-containing feeds. The rolled catalyst inserts are self-supported on the reactor wall and enable efficient heat transfer from the reactor wall to the reactor interior, and lower pressure drop than known particulate catalysts. The heat source can be oxygen transport membrane reactors.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

N channel JFET based digital logic gate structure

A circuit topography is presented which is used to create usable digital logic gates using N (negatively doped) channel Junction Field Effect Transistors (JFETs) and load resistors, level shifting resistors, and supply rails whose values are based on the direct current (DC) parametric distributions of those JFETs. This method has direct application to the current state of the art in high temperature, for example 300.degree. C. to 500.degree. C. and higher, silicon carbide (SiC) device production. The ability to produce inverting and combinatorial logic enables the production of pulse and edge triggered latches. This scale of logic synthesis would bring digital logic and state machine capabilities to devices operating in extremely hot environments, such as the surface of Venus, near hydrothermal vents, within nuclear reactors (SiC is inherently radiation hardened), and within internal combustion engines. The basic logic gate can be configured as a driver for oscillator circuits allowing for time bases and simple digitizers for resistive or reactive sensors. The basic structure of this innovation, the inverter, can be reconfigured into various analog circuit topographies through the use of feedback structures.

Krasowski, Michael J.↗

Implementation of Distributed Memory Computing in MOSAIC to Enable Large 3D Simulations of Irradiated Concrete

The concrete biological shield (CBS) of light-water reactors protects workers and the surrounding environment by absorbing neutron and gamma irradiation emitted from the reactor core. The radiation dose increases with the CBS’s operational time and, in the long term, becomes significant enough to raise the question of irradiation effects on concrete—and particularly on the structural integrity of the CBS. Irradiation-induced damage has been identified as one of the main degradation mechanisms in the CBS. Neutron radiation causes the swelling of aggregate-forming minerals at different rates and amplitudes depending on the mineral’s nature. Silicate-bearing minerals such as quartz are particularly sensitive to neutron radiation and experience up to 17.8% volumetric expansion. Aggregates comprise several minerals with different orientations and are, therefore, subject to cracking as a result of mismatch strains. Additionally, the swelling of aggregates creates significant stresses in the surrounding cement paste matrix, which also results in crack formation. In parallel with the collection of characterization and irradiation test data, development of modeling and simulation tools for irradiated concrete is ongoing with the support of the US Department of Energy Office of Nuclear Energy’s Light Water Reactor Sustainability (LWRS) program. This effort resulted in the development and application of the fast-Fourier transform (FFT)–based code Microstructure-Oriented Scientific Analysis of Irradiated Concrete (MOSAIC) at Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

61 RADIATION PROTECTION AND DOSIMETRY↗

Initial Assessment of Erosion/Abrasion Issues Related to Gas-Cooled Reactors

The US Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) is investigating the graphite erosion concern detailed in the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code (BPVC), Section III, Division 5, “High Temperature Reactors.” The special consideration in Subsection HH, Subpart A (HHA)-3143, “Abrasion and Erosion,” was described in ASME BPVC Section III, Division 5, which was accepted with exception/limitation in a US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) Technical Review. This report describes ORNL’s FY 2023 comprehensive research of erosion-related reports and publications to further study the proposed gas flow velocity limitation to the erosion effect in graphite structure in the ASME BPVC. This report also proposes that a nondimensional fluid parameter, the Reynolds number, might be a better alternative than gas flow velocity for comparing erosion effects caused by carbonaceous dust in fast-flowing helium coolant in gas-cooled reactors (GCRs).

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

In-situ irradiation of uranium carbide

Uranium carbide (UC) is a leading candidate fuel for Generation IV reactors due to its high uranium density and thermal conductivity. However, its irradiation performance—particularly gas bubble swelling and defect dynamics—remains poorly characterized. Using in-situ transmission electron microscopy (TEM), we irradiated UC with 300 keV Xe + and 1 MeV Kr 2+ ions at temperatures up to 900 °C to quantify swelling behavior and dislocation loop evolution. The swelling remained below 0.6 % across all temperatures, suggesting the dimensional stability of UC under irradiation at these temperatures. Dislocation loops grew faster in UC than in UO 2 or UN, correlating with its lower homologous temperature. Notably, nanograin structures emerged in thin regions of the lamellar, mirroring phenomena previously observed in UO 2 and ZrC. These results address critical knowledge gaps in the radiation tolerance of UC and provide insight into its suitability for advanced reactor systems.

11 - NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

Reducing Uncertainty in Hydrodynamic Modeling of ATR Experiments Via Flow Testing, Validation, and Optimization

The development, characterization, and qualification testing of nuclear fuel at Idaho National Laboratory’s Advanced Test Reactor (ATR) requires extensive design and analysis activities prior to the insertion of an irradiation experiment in-pile. Significant effort is made in the design and development phase of all in-pile experiments to ensure that the maximum feasible impacts of all necessary experimental requirements are satisfied. The advancement of fuel, cladding, and in-reactor materials technology in recent years has introduced complexities associated with the design and construct of in-pile experiments necessitating deeper understanding of boundary conditions and increasingly comprehensive observations resulting from the experiment. Each unique experiment must be assessed for neutronics response, thermal/hydraulic/hydrodynamic performance, and structural integrity. This is accomplished either analytically, computationally, or experimentally, or some combination thereof, prior to insertion into the ATR. The various effects are interrelated to various degrees, such as the case with the experiment temperature affecting the thermal cross section of the fuel or the increased temperature of the experiment’s materials reducing the mechanical strength of the assemblies. Additionally, the feedback between the experiment’s response to a reactor transient could alter the neutron flux profile of the reactor during the transient. Each experiment must therefore undergo a barrage of analyses to assure the ATR operational safety review committee that the insertion and irradiation of the experiment will not detrimentally affect the safe operational envelope of the reactor. In many cases, the nuclear fuel being tested can be double-encapsulated to ensure safety margins are adequately addressed, whereas failed fuel would be encased in a protective capsule. In other cases, the experiments can be inserted in a self-contained loop that passes through the reactor core, remaining isolated from the primary coolant. In the case of research reactor fuel, however, the fuel plates must be tested in direct contact with the reactor coolant, and being fuel designed for high neutron fluxes, they are inherently power-dense plates. The combination of plate geometry, high-power density, and direct contact with primary coolant creates a scenario where the neutronic/thermomechanic/hydrodynamic characteristics of the fuel plates are tightly coupled, necessitating as complete characterization as possible to support the safety and programmatic assessments, thus enabling a successful experiment. This paper explores the efforts of the U.S. High-Performance Research Reactor program to thermomechanically/hydromechanically characterize the program’s wide variety of experiments, which range from stacks of miniplate capsules to full-sized, geometrically representative curved plates. Special attention is given to instances where the combination of experimental characterization and analytical assessment has reduced uncertainties of the safety margins, allowing experiments to be irradiated that would otherwise not have passed the rigorous qualification process for irradiation in the ATR. In some cases, the combined processes have exposed flow and heat transfer characteristics that would have been missed using historical methods, which allows for more accurate and representative postirradiation assessments.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

Data-driven methods for diffusivity prediction in nuclear fuels

The growth rate of structural defects in nuclear fuels under irradiation is intrinsically related to the diffusion rates of the defects in the fuel lattice. The generation and growth of atomistic structural defects can significantly alter the performance characteristics of the fuel. This alteration of functionality must be accurately captured to qualify a nuclear fuel for use in reactors. Predicting the diffusion coefficients of defects and how they impact macroscale properties such as swelling, gas release, and creep is therefore of significant importance in both the design of new nuclear fuels and the assessment of current fuel types. In this article, we apply data-driven methods focusing on machine learning (ML) to determine various diffusion properties of two nuclear fuels—uranium oxide and uranium nitride. We show that using ML can increase, often significantly, the accuracy of predicting diffusivity in nuclear fuels in comparison to current analytical models. We also illustrate how ML can be used to quickly develop fuel models with parameter dependencies that are more complex and robust than what is currently available in the literature. In conclusion, these results suggest there is potential for ML to accelerate the design, qualification, and implementation of nuclear fuels.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

Bayesian discovery of optimal reduced order models from mechanistic and experimental data: A case study of Pd penetration in TRISO fuels using BISON

TRistructural ISOtropic (TRISO) particles rely on a silicon carbide (SiC) layer as the primary structural material and barrier to metallic fission products (FPs) release. Accurate prediction of palladium (Pd) transport and penetration is therefore critical for qualifying TRISO fuels for advanced reactors. The empirical correlation for Pd penetration in BISON is derived from historical particle-fuel data, but cannot explain the large scatter in the experimental data that arises from varying experimental conditions. To aid fuel qualification, we previously developed a mechanistic reduced order model (ROM) using BISON that resolves these dependencies. Here, in this work we build on that mechanistic ROM and perform validation and quantify its uncertainty using Bayesian uncertainty quantification (UQ). calibration against a suite of in-pile and out-of-pile experiments spanning particle compositions, geometries, and operating conditions, and we benchmark it against the empirical correlation. Bayesian UQ identifies influential parameters, calibrates them to data, and yields predictive intervals. Results show that while the empirical correlation can be tuned to fit a single experiment type, it transfers poorly; the mechanistic ROM sustains accuracy with credible uncertainty across disparate conditions. This demonstrates a practical path—via Bayesian UQ applied to mechanistic ROMs—to leverage single-effect experiments for inferring in-reactor behavior and supporting TRISO fuel qualification.

11 - NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

Effect of Li metal addition on corrosion control of Hastelloy N and stainless steel 316H in molten LiF-NaF-KF

Molten fluoride salts are used in various energy harvesting applications such as solar collectors and molten salt nuclear reactors (MSRs). Thermodynamically driven selective dissolution of alloying elements due to impurities present within the fluoride salts have been identified to be the main corrosion mechanism for structural alloys in molten fluoride salts. Impurities in these salts, during salt preparation as well as during operation, can be difficult to control. One way to prevent the selective dissolution of active alloying elements is to make the molten salt reducing by either purifying it to remove impurities or to add some reactive metal that will react with the impurities and make the salt reducing. Here this study is focused on the corrosion behaviour of Hastelloy N and 316H stainless steel in molten LiF-NaF-KF eutectic mixture (FLiNaK) at 700°C and how this behaviour changes with the addition of Li metal as a reducing impurity. Our results indicate that the active metal addition like Li can be very effective in controlling the redox behaviour of salt, which in-turn can mitigate corrosion. Even the addition of small quantities of Li metal can mitigate the selective dissolution of active alloying elements for the tested structural materials in FLiNaK. Our results also suggest that the presence of excess amounts of Li, above the minimum concentration required to react with the impurities in FLiNaK, does not have any detrimental effect in terms of formation of new intermetallic phases at the surface of the selected alloys under tested conditions.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Elucidating the Chemical Pathways Responsible for the Sooting Tendency of 1 and 2-phenylethanol

Yield Sooting Index (YSI) measurements have shown that oxygenated aromatic compounds (OACs) tend to have lower YSI than aromatic hydrocarbon (AHC) compounds. For example, typical AHCs such as toluene and ethyl benzene have a YSI of 170 and 216, respectively, in contrast, OACs such as phenol and anisole have a YSI of 81 and 111, respectively. However, this trend is not always true as was observed for the structural isomers 1-phenylethanol (1PE, YSI=142) and 2-phenylethanol (2PE, YSI=207), where 2PE contains a YSI more representative of AHCs than OACs. We applied flow reactor experiments and density functional theory (DFT) calculations to examine how oxygen functionality present in 1PE and 2PE alters the reaction pathways leading to the observed difference in soot formation. It was determined that the proximity of the oxygen functional group to the aromatic ring determines whether the oxygen remains attached to the primary reacting species (for 1PE) or is eliminated early in the combustion sequence (for 2PE). For these alcohols, preservation of the oxygen in the molecule leads to further OACs, while loss of the oxygen leads to AHCs and benzyl radical. The direct pathways to AHCs and benzyl radical result in the higher YSI observed for 2PE.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Low-Temperature Hydrothermal Synthesis of Colloidal Crystal Templated Nanostructured Single-Crystalline ZnO

Single crystal semiconductors almost always exhibit better optoelectrical properties than their polycrystalline or amorous counterparts. While three-dimensionally (3D) nanostructured semiconductor devices have been proposed for numerous applications, in the vast majority of reports, the semiconductor is polycrystalline or amorphous, greatly reducing the potential for advanced properties. While technologies for 3D structuring of semiconductors via use of a 3D template have advanced significantly, approaches for epitaxially growing nanostructured single crystal semiconductors within a template remain limited. Here, we demonstrate the epitaxial growth of 3D-structured ZnO through colloidal templates formed from 225 nm and 600 nm diameter colloidal particles via a low-temperature (~80 °C) hydrothermal process using a flow reactor. The effects of the pH of the reaction solution as well as the additive used on the 3D epitaxy process are investigated. The optical and electrical properties of the epitaxially grown nanostructured ZnO are probed by reflectance, photoluminescence, and Hall effect measurements. It is found that the epitaxially grown nanostructured ZnO generally exhibits superior properties than those of polycrystalline ZnO. The demonstrated hydrothermal epitaxy process should be applicable to other chemical solution-based deposition techniques and help extend the range of materials that can be grown into a 3D nanostructured single-crystalline form.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Influence of Ordered Mesoporous Oxides in Plasma-Assisted Ammonia Synthesis

Widespread implementation of dielectric barrier discharge (DBD)-assisted NH 3 synthesis, a nascent technology operating under sustainable, ambient conditions, is hindered by low energy yields due to, in part, poor fundamental understanding. Porous oxides used to support metal nanoparticle catalysts have shown significant energy yield contributions for DBD-assisted NH 3 synthesis even without metal. Using an AC-powered, coaxial, single-stage reactor at 16 kV with equimolar (N 2 /H 2 ) feed, we measured NH 3 synthesis rates in the presence of different nonordered oxides, ordered SiO 2 structures (SBA-15 and MCM-41), and ordered Al-incorporated analogues (γ-Al 2 O 3 -coated with varying Al-loadings and Al-substitution, respectively: Al 2 O 3 -SBA-15 and Al-MCM-41). We systematically quantified NH 3 energy yield dependence on pore structures and material identities (i.e., ordered pores and Al incorporation) known to facilitate higher DBD-assisted NH 3 synthesis rates. SBA-15 displayed a higher steady-state energy yield than MCM-41, indicating that framework type is a crucial factor, with both ordered porous systems outperforming fumed SiO 2 . 10 wt % Al maximized in situ NH 3 uptake among the various Al loadings, exhibiting a higher steady-state energy yield and similar power to SBA-15. However, Al-MCM-41 had a similar steady-state energy yield and lower power than MCM-41, likely due to the extended γ-Al 2 O 3 surface that has a dielectric constant higher than that of SiO 2 . Both Al-incorporated analogues benefit from surface acid sites that can adsorb NH 3 in situ, resulting in higher overall NH 3 energy yields than that of their parent ordered SiO 2 . Al 2 O 3 -SBA-15 shielded more NH 3 than Al-MCM-41, likely due to a higher acid site density than the acid site identity. Furthermore, Al incorporation via γ-Al 2 O 3 coating more successfully improves the NH 3 energy yield; together with the high-performing ordered framework, these analogues are potential metal catalyst supports with promising energy yields for DBD-assisted synthesis of NH 3 and other chemicals.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Friends or Foes: Fundamental Principles of Th-Organic Scaffold Chemistry Using Zr-Analogs as a Guide

The fundamental interest in actinide chemistry, particularly for the development of thorium-based materials, is experiencing a renaissance owing to the recent and rapidly growing attention to fuel cycle reactors, radiological daughters for nuclear medicine, and efficient nuclear stockpile development. Herein, we uncover fundamental principles of thorium chemistry on the example of Th-based extended structures such as metal–organic frameworks in comparison with the discrete systems and zirconium extended analogs, demonstrating remarkable over two-and-half-year chemical stability of Th-based frameworks as a function of metal node connectivity, amount of defects, and conformational linker rigidity through comprehensive spectroscopic and crystallographic analysis as well as theoretical modeling. Despite exceptional chemical stability, we report the first example of studies focusing on the reactivity of the most chemically stable Th-based frameworks in comparison with the discrete Th-based systems such as metal–organic complexes and a cage, contrasting multicycle recyclability and selectivity (>97%) of the extended structures in comparison with the molecular compounds. Altogether, the presented work not only establishes the conceptual foundation for evaluating the capabilities of Th-based materials but also represents a milestone for their multifaceted future and foreshadows their potential to shape the next era of actinide chemistry.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗