Dr. Elmar Schweitzer, Dr. Jeremy BischoffCOP23, Bonn, 11/08/2017

Enhanced Accident Tolerant Fuel at AREVA NP

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Why Develop eATF Solutions?

Zr alloy

eATF solution

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− Cr-coating provides significant reduction in HT steam oxidation

− Cr2O3-doped fuel shows high fission gas retention in transient conditions

AREVA NP eATF Program

u Evolutionary Concept(Near-term solution)

Cr-coated Zr cladding + Cr2O3-doped UO2 fuel

u Revolutionary Concept(Long-term solution)

SiCf/SiC claddingMulti-layer composite cladding with a metallic liner to ensure the leak-tightness

- Very low oxidation kinetics in HT steam

- High strength at high temperature- High melting temperature

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Description of AREVA NP’s Near-TermeATF Fuel Rod Concept

Cr2O3-doped UO2 FuelCr-Coated Zr Cladding

Large Grain Microstructure

Enhanced viscoplasticity

Thin coating(5-20µm)

No modification of the underlying Zr substrate

microstructure

Dense coating

100µm

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Normal Operation: Benefits of Cr-CoatedCladding with Cr2O3-doped UO2 Fuel

ReducedCorrosion+HPickup

ReducedCladdingWear

IncreasedFuel

Density

ReducedFGR(RodPressure)

ImprovedPCI

Behavior

Increased FuelUtilization

Reduced FuelFailures

IncreasedMargins

Provides:- RELIABILITY- FLEXIBLEOPERATION- ECONOMICBENEFITS

ReducedChipping

Cr-CoatedCladding

Cr2O3-doped UO2 Fuel

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Accidental Conditions: Benefits of Cr-CoatedCladding with Cr2O3-doped UO2 Fuel

Reduced HTSteam

Oxidation

Reduced HTCreep &

Ballooning

ReducedFuel

Fragmentation

ReducedFGR(RodPressure)

ImprovedCoolableGeometry

Reduced HeatandH2

Production

ReducedReleaseof

Radionuclides

Increased:- COPINGTIME- MARGINS- SAFETY

IncreasedPost-QuenchDuctility

Cr-CoatedCladding

Cr2O3-doped UO2 Fuel

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Performance Confirmation

Reactor Sample Type PIE Timeline

OSIRIS - CEA Cr-coated tubes and flat specimens

Coating performance,adherence 2015-2018

IMAGO -Commercial

Reactor (Europe)

Cr-coated tubes, flat specimens, strained

samples

Corrosion kinetics,coating performance,

mechanical properties,microstructural eval

2016-2019

2019-2022

CommercialReactor (US)

Lead Fuel RodsCr2O3-doped pellets Pool side examination 2017

HALDEN -Norway

Cr-coated rodlets with UO2 pellets

Coating performance, pellet-clad interaction 2017-2021

ATR - INL Cr-coated rodlets with Cr2O3-doped pellets

Microstructural evaluation, oxidation,

hydrogen pickup, coating performance

2017-2021

Licensing and Performance Confirmation Data for Licensing

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The road towards eATF

2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029

IMAGO 2016

LTR programs

LTA programs (planned)

commercial eATF FA

Irradiation of Material Test Samples + PIE

Irradiation of lead test rods + PIE

Base M5® Cladding

Cr-coatingChromia-doped UO2 pellets

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IMAGO irradiation project (European PWR)u First irradiation of ATF materials in a commercial PWR

Excellent Behavior of Cr-coated Claddingafter 1 Cycle of Irradiation

Slightgolden color =

very thinoxide layer

(<1µm)

Uncoatedsegment

Cr-coatedsegment

No delamination = very adherent coatingSmooth transition coated - uncoated

Excellent behavior of Cr-coated claddingImportant input data to support lead fuel rod justification

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Goals:u Demonstrate

feasibility of full-lengthCr depositionby Physical vapordeposition

u ProduceCr-coatedcladding for lead fuel rods

Fabrication of Full-Length PVD Prototype Machine to Manufacture LFR Cladding

Lab ScaleFeasibility

Full-LengthFeasibility

Industrial ScaleProduction

Full-length Cr-coated cladding fabrication on trackfor lead fuel rod insertion in 2019

Start-up and first tube production

on-going

Fabrication of 6m long prototype

completed

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AREVA NP is fast-tracking the implementation of its near-termeATF solution:u Cr-coated Zr cladding + Cr2O3-doped UO2 fuel

Take Away Message

FirstcommercialirradiationfeedbackOK

Full-lengthcoating

prototypecompleted

LFRinsertion2019

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Any reproduction, alteration, transmission to any third party orpublication in whole or in part of this document and/or itscontent is prohibited unless AREVA has provided its prior andwritten consent.This document and any information it contains shall not beused for any other purpose than the one for which they wereprovided. Legal action may be taken against any infringerand/or any person breaching the aforementioned obligations.