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ANS Winter 2022: ATF-2C Physics Safety and Scoping Analysis

ATF-2C comprises four tiers with six rodlets each. The experiment test train (TT) is situated in Loop 2A in the center flux trap (CFT) of the ATR, in which typical pressurized water reactor (PWR) conditions shall be approximated. Tier 1 (bottom) of the TT tests Framatome silicon carbide (SiC) cladding, containing molybdenum heater rods. Low-enriched uranium (LEU) Framatome rodlets with chrome-coated M5 cladding have been modeled in their place for the physics safety analysis to allow the substitution of this tier with fuel if needed. Tier 2 tests LEU Framatome rodlets with M5 cladding, which had irradiated in ATR in prior ATF experiments. Tier 3 tests General Atomics SiC composite cladding, also containing molybdenum heater rods. Tier 4/5/6 (top) tests the Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA)/Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) fueled rodlets. This upper tier tests LEU rodlets with chrome-coated MDA cladding—several with temperature or pressure instrumentation. To flatten the axial power profile, lower portion of Tier 4/5/6 is surrounded by a hafnium (Hf) shroud, and the bottom two UO2 pellets are of natural enrichment. The ATF-2C TT is to be irradiated in the CFT of ATR (Fig. 1) for three or four 60-day cycles.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

Accident Tolerant Fuel Test (ATF-2c) Irradiation Test Report

A new fully prototypic testing platform for testing new accident tolerant fuel (ATF) designs for light water reactors has been established in the center flux trap of Idaho National Laboratory’s advanced test reactor (ATR). The irradiation experiment named ATF-2C has completed its first cycle of prototypic steady state irradiation. Irradiation conditions have been maintained via the loop 2a pressurized water coolant loop and have been monitored through in-situ instrumentation during each cycle. Power and fast neutron flux histories of each of the 24 test pins has been calculated.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

Accident tolerant fuel test 2c (ATF-2C) irradiation test report

A fully prototypic testing platform for testing new accident tolerant fuel (ATF) designs for light water reactors has been established in the center flux trap of Idaho National Laboratory’s advanced test reactor (ATR). The irradiation experiment named ATF-2C has completed its four cycles of prototypic steady state irradiation. Irradiation conditions have been maintained via the loop 2a pressurized water coolant loop and have been monitored through in-situ instrumentation during each cycle. Power and burnup histories of each of the 18 fueled test pins has been calculated.

11 - NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

Evaluation of an Accident Tolerant Fuel Leak in the Advanced Test Reactor

Accident Tolerant Fuels (ATF), which are nuclear fuel sources designed to withstand operational irregularities and incidents, have been a topic of interest in the nuclear industry for several decades. Interest in ATF technology surged following the 2011 accident at Fukushima Daiichi in Japan. At the Advanced Test Reactor (ATR), one of Idaho National Laboratory’s (INL) four operating nuclear reactors, the ATF program is a collaborative effort between the national laboratory and various stakeholders within the nuclear industry. This program focuses on the research and development of novel fuel compositions, cladding, and component materials with enhanced accident-resistant properties. During one of ATR’s 60-day operating cycles in 2024, the reactor experienced five unplanned shutdowns. Following the fifth shutdown, radiation monitors detected an increase in radiation levels coming from the loop piping. Subsequent water samples confirmed the cause was a leak of fission products from the ATF experiment, designated as ATF-2C. The source of the leak was identified as the instrumented section of the test train. The primary discussions in this paper are 1) the design of the ATF test train, 2) the operating parameters leading up to and following the detection of the leak, and 3) the quantification and characterization of the released fission products.

Accident Tolerant Fuels↗

Evaluation of an Accident Tolerant Fuel Leak in the Advanced Test Reactor

Accident Tolerant Fuels (ATF), which are nuclear fuel sources designed to withstand operational irregularities and incidents, have been a topic of interest in the nuclear industry for several decades. Interest in ATF technology surged following the 2011 accident at Fukushima Daiichi in Japan. At the Advanced Test Reactor (ATR), one of Idaho National Laboratory’s (INL) four operating nuclear reactors, the ATF program is a collaborative effort between the national laboratory and various stakeholders within the nuclear industry. This program focuses on the research and development of novel fuel compositions, cladding, and component materials with enhanced accident-resistant properties. During one of ATR’s 60-day operating cycles in 2024, the reactor experienced five unplanned shutdowns. Following the fifth shutdown, radiation monitors detected an increase in radiation levels coming from the loop piping. Subsequent water samples confirmed the cause was a leak of fission products from the ATF experiment, designated as ATF-2C. The source of the leak was identified as the instrumented section of the test train. The primary discussions in this presentation are 1) the design of the ATF test train, 2) the operating parameters leading up to and following the detection of the leak, and 3) the quantification and characterization of the released fission products.

11 - NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗