Features that Further Performance Limits of Nuclear Fuel Fabrication: Opportunities for Additive Manufacturing of Nuclear Fuels

Nelson, Andrew T.

doi:10.2172/1669784

Cited by 6 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 40 publications

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“…Several potential applications of additive manufacturing technologies have been identified and are being explored as part of the TCR design and analysis activities [22]. Fuel design [23] and embedded instrumentation [24,25] applications are not included in this discussion, but they are being explored.…”

Section: Core Design Applicationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Advanced Manufacturing for Nuclear Core Design

et al. 2021

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Advanced manufacturing has the potential to revitalize US manufacturing, with valuable applications in several industries, including aerospace, automotive, and construction. Some of these applications have clear-cut objectives (e.g., maintain component performance while reducing mass). Applications of advanced manufacturing of nuclear components have aimed at recapturing lost manufacturing capabilities or addressing maintenance of legacy reactor components. Through the Department of Energy, Office of Nuclear Energy, Transformational Challenge Reactor design and analysis thrust, applications of advanced manufacturing, in particular, additive manufacturing, to core design has yielded reactor designs that are free from conventional manufacturing constraints. For applications in core design, the multiphysics nature of the key core metrics (e.g., peak temperature, peak power) in addition to transient safety performance requirements provides a more complex set of objectives that requires more advanced modeling and simulation tools. Additive manufacturing provides high dimensional control and design flexibility to produce complex coolant channel shapes for improved heat transfer properties and low peak material temperatures. Additional mechanisms for improved heat transfer characteristics and temperature-controlled feedback mechanisms have also been explored and incorporated into designs. While some of these enhancements are not directly beneficial for the current operating pressurized water reactor fleet, benefits may be realized in specific reactor applications that have a more constrained design space (e.g., mass, size, material type) or design metrics (e.g., fuel utilization).

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Section: Core Design Applicationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Advanced Manufacturing for Nuclear Core Design

et al. 2021

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“…Although these accomplishments show positive progress toward the use of AM in nuclear reactors, a far greater yet achievable milestone would be deploying an advanced reactor design whose performance is improved through AM features. AM of nuclear fuel-related structures has been an R&D topic in both the TCR program [34] and elsewhere [35][36][37][38]. Some approaches could significantly increase nuclear core performance; however, these newer technologies are likely still years away before they could be adopted for a demonstration reactor.…”

Section: Figure 1 3d Printed Fuel Assembly Brackets Produced By Ornl ...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Artificial Intelligence for Multiphysics Nuclear Design Optimization with Additive Manufacturing

Ade¹,

Hiscox²,

Popov³

et al. 2021

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“…The fuel form for the TCR consists of conventionally-fabricated UN TRISO fuel particles embedded inside a silicon carbide (SiC) matrix [2,3]. These integrated fuel forms are fabricated using AM methods, specifically binderjet printing followed by chemical vapor infiltration [4].…”

Section: Description Of the Tcr Fuel Formmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…While MIT-NRL data will be used to test the normal neutronic behavior of the fuel, INL-TREAT data will facilitate the assessment under the anticipated reactivity insertion accidents via transient testing. Both tests are designed to evaluate advanced manufactured (AM) silicon carbide (SiC) compacts containing conventionally-fabricated UN-TRISO fuel [1][2][3]. This report describes the selection and identification of relevant samples for these tests and provides a brief description of the experiments.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%