US Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) recently started examining several new fuel rods developed by GE Vernova’s Global Nuclear Fuel (GNF). The rods were shipped to the lab from a commercial NPP after completing six years of irradiation. The results from the experiments will be used to support the commercial deployment of high burn-up fuels before the end of the decade.
Higher burn-up fuel is designed to remain in the reactor core for longer periods before being removed for long-term storage. Its use would lead to fewer refuelling outages, increased power output for better economics, and less used fuel generated over the lifetime of the reactor.
The fuel rods were manufactured at GNF’s fabrication facility in Wilmington, North Carolina, with support from the Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Accident Tolerant Fuel (ATF) programme. They were later inserted into a commercial reactor for testing, where they completed three full cycles of operation. ORNL will examine the fuel and verify its safety and performance. The post-irradiation experiments will continue for several years. The results will be used to support the development, engineering, and licensing efforts of GNF’s fuel.
“This fuel shipment to Oak Ridge National Laboratory is an important step in GNF’s efforts to commercialise their high burn-up fuel,” said Frank Goldner, a nuclear engineer within DOE’s Office of Nuclear Energy. “High burn-up fuels are expected to enhance the performance of today’s reactors and will help us on our path to reach net-zero emissions by 2050.”
GE Vernova’s Nuclear energy business, through its global alliance with Hitachi, provides nuclear fuel bundles, services, and advanced nuclear reactor designs. Technologies include boiling water reactors and small modular reactors, such as the BWRX-300. GE Vernova’s Nuclear fuel business, GNF, supplies boiling water reactor fuel and fuel-related engineering services. GNF is a GE Vernova-led joint venture with Hitachi and operates primarily through Global Nuclear Fuel-Americas in Wilmington and Global Nuclear Fuel-Japan Co in Kurihama, Japan.
