Development of metallic fuels for fast reactors

A very rapid growth rate of 100-fold increase in the next 50 years has been targeted for nuclear energy in India for which metallic fuel will be introduced in FBRs after 2020. Many innovative and challenging fuel design concepts for metal fuels are under consideration, which require extensive research and development work to generate database for the designers. The designs under active considerations are one in which the fuel will either be sodium bonded ternary U-15Pu-6Zr alloy or mechanically/sodium bonded binary U-15Pu alloy with a Zr liner between the fuel and the clad. The decision on the choice of the fuel will be based on test fuel irradiations in FBTR, subsequent PIE results, modeling studies and closing the fuel cycle through pyrometallurgical route. The development of metallic fuel is being pursued jointly by BARC and IGCAR. While the mechanical bonding concept with Pu-U alloy as fuel is being pursued at BARC, sodium bonding concept is being developed at IGCAR. BARC has already established the fabrication route for the mechanical bonding of U-Zr alloy, through co-swaging route. The properties of the fuels are evaluated. The fabrication of U-Pu alloy fuel pins through this route is now under development. It is now proposed to carry out the irradiation of test fuel pins, fabricated through both the routes, in FBTR in order to select the route for further development. This will be followed by subassembly level irradiation in FBTR to obtain experience on large scale fabrication of metallic fuel and to establish its performance