Advanced Fuel Cycle Development at Chalk River Laboratories

Abstract

Chalk River Laboratories (CRL) has a mandate from the Canadian government to develop nuclear technologies that support generation of clean, safe energy. This includes the development of advanced nuclear fuel technologies to ensure sustainable energy sources for Canadians.The Fuel Development Branch leads CRL's development of advanced nuclear-reactor fuels. CRL capabilities include fuel fabrication development, irradiation testing, post-irradiation examination (PIE), materials characterization and code development (modeling). This paper provides an overview of these capabilities and describes recent development activities that support fuel-cycle flexibility in heavy-water reactors. This includes a review of irradiation testing and PIE for mixed-oxide, thoria, high-burnup UO₂ and low-void reactivity fuels and burnable neutron absorbers. Fabrication development, material characterizations and modeling associated with these tests are also described.