Review of fuel element developments for water cooled nuclear power reactors

Given the large scale of fuel fabrication (10,000 t/a of heavy metal) and consumption, improvements in water reactor fuel technology and utilization are of great importance in achieving better reactor operational safety and economics. As a result of significant developments in reactor fuel technology over the past 10-15 years, average failure rates are now as low as 0.01% failed rods per reactor-year or less for current concepts of fuel utilization. However, the incentives for utilities to improve fuel cycles (e.g. load follow, burnup increase, longer fuel cycles, etc.) set additional requirements on fuel design and performance. These aspects were discussed in detail at a number of IAEA meetings conducted under the auspices of the International Working Group on Water Reactor Fuel Performance and Technology (IWGFPT), in particular at the International Symposium on Improvements in Water Reactor Fuel Technology and Utilization, held in Stockholm from 15 to 19 September 1986. This report is intended to provide the reader with general information on the progress made in water reactor fuel design, fabrication and utilization, as well as on current and future developments. The report is addressed to readers from countries with extensive nuclear power programmes, as well as those from countries embarking on national programmes to provide domestic capabilities for fuel design and manufacture. 157 refs, 20 figs, 16 tabs