Fuel engineering innovation the development of the enhanced accident tolerant fuels (ATF)

Nuclear fuel is a highly complex product that has been subject to continuous evolutions over the past 40 years and has reached a stage where it can be safely and reliably irradiated in commercial nuclear reactors. However, the basic design of uranium oxide fuel pellets clad with zirconium alloy tubing has remained as the standard for the vast majority of commercial nuclear power plants. The Three Mile Island and Fukushima Daiichi accidents have shown that the current fuel designs are vulnerable under extreme conditions so there is a renewed interest in alternative fuel designs that increase the safety of today's light-water reactors. Accident-tolerant fuel (ATF) is the term used to describe new technologies that enhance the safety and performance of nuclear fuel under such conditions. ATF must be available within a practical time frame for utilities to take advantage of its benefits, especially for second license renewals. A transformational shift in the way the fuel is designed and licensing is needed as the current processes for qualification and deployment of nuclear fuel technology are outdated, exceedingly complex and time consuming.