Spain’s Enusa Industrias Avanzadas (Enusa)and Westinghouse Electric company have signed a Framework Cooperation Agreement (FCA) to collaborate in the development of Westinghouse’s EnCore Accident Tolerant Fuel (ATF).
The fuel incorporates concepts such as chrome-plated zirconium alloy sheaths, silicon carbide (SiC) sheaths and uranium silicide(U3Si2) fuel pellets, which aim for greater tolerance to temporary coolant loss, based on the experience in the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant.
The FCA establishes the framework that will regulate the joint collaborative projects (JDP) launched by the companies. The first project will evaluate the application of the segmented rod concept and the development models of ATF/EnCore fuel behaviour following the first introduction of demonstration ATF/Encore fuel rods in the US Byron nulclear plant in 2019. This will be followed by other projects in the area of codes and methods, used fuel and fuel fabrication and inspection technology.
The signature of the FCA will strengthen the technical and commercial relations between Enusa and Westinghouse, formalised through recently extended agreements of the European Fuel Group "EFG" and of the Licence.
