Computational assessment using sensitivity analysis of more tolerant fuels

Abstract

The secure operation of nuclear technology, including the avoidance of nuclear accidents and the optimal use of fuel cycles, poses a significant challenge. As of 2020, a total of 442 nuclear reactors are in operation in 30 countries across the world, accounting for over 13% of the global electricity demand. Over the last 50 years, light water reactors have operated using uranium dioxide as fuel and zirconium alloys as cladding. However, extensive research on more tolerant fuels has been conducted with high priority since the Fukushima disaster in 2011. New tolerance ideals seek the replacement of the standard fuel system with state-of-the-art options soon. Such investigations have predominantly focused on the responses and physical properties of new candidates for tolerant fuels, which are superior to those of standard fuel systems, based on close time-advanced alloys manufactured by substituting zirconium alloys with FeCrAl for enhanced corrosion resistance. Further, more tolerant fuels exhibit high uranium densities, with better thermal conductivities than uranium dioxide. This study proposes a fuel-licensing code as safety criteria collaborating with stochastic models and conservative rules. It also incorporates a sensitivity analysis using U3Si2 as fuel and FeCrAl alloys as cladding.