About this Abstract |
| Meeting |
2026 TMS Annual Meeting & Exhibition
|
| Symposium
|
Metallic Fuels - Design, Fabrication, and Characterization
|
| Presentation Title |
Metal Fuels Opportunities Beyond Sodium Fast Reactors |
| Author(s) |
Geoffrey L. Beausoleil, Scott Holcombe |
| On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Geoffrey L. Beausoleil |
| Abstract Scope |
Metallic fuels have a rich and long history for use in sodium cooled fast reactors (SFR). Following the closure of the EBR-II, the prevalence of metallic fuels research waned as interests focused light water reactor (LWR) fuels. However, the recent focus on advanced nuclear technology over the last fifteen years has seen a resurgence in metallic fuel interest, including opportunities beyond SFRs. Lightbridge Corporation is one example where a metallic fuel is being developed and qualified for use in LWRs. The Lightbridge fuel design is a co-extruded fuel and cladding that offers a significant advantage in safety margin and power uprates that is not possible for oxide fuels. Other research work has also shown promise for molybdenum alloy fuels in LWR conditions. While metallic fuels remain a highly attractive fuel choice for SFRs, it is important to understand the opportunities for metallic fuel research beyond SFRs. |
| Proceedings Inclusion? |
Planned: |
| Keywords |
Nuclear Materials, Other, |