A group of U.S. electric utilities represented by the Nuclear Utility Fuel Advisory Board (NUFAB) has expressed interest in a metallic fuel design, by Lightbridge Corp., to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). NUFAB says the fuel provides opportunities to improve safety and fuel cycle economics significantly, reports World Nuclear News.

Norway's 25 MW Halden research reactor will start sampling fabricated fuels in a pressurized water loop in 2017. Source: WikipediaNorway's 25 MW Halden research reactor will start sampling fabricated fuels in a pressurized water loop in 2017. Source: WikipediaLightbridge's metallic fuel is made from a zirconium-uranium (Zr-U) alloy and uses a composition with a multi-lobed and helically twisted rod geometry. The design reportedly offers improved heat transfer properties, enabling it to operate at a higher power density than uranium oxide fuels.

NUFAB made its submission to the NRC ahead of an application for the use of the fuel in lead test assemblies, which is expected to be submitted in 2017. The test assemblies could be inserted into an operating U.S. pressurized water reactor as early as 2020.

Fabricated samples of the fuel are expected to undergo full irradiation in a pressurized water loop at Norway's 25 MW Halden research reactor, starting in 2017. Post-irradiation examinations of those samples will be used to support the application to the NRC, NUFAB says.

Lightbridge is also finalizing an agreement with Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd. a subsidiary of Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL),for fabrication of fuel samples at CNL's Chalk River facilities.

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