Framatome technology for Holtec SMR-160 Holtec International has selected Framatome to supply nuclear fuel for the SMR-160 small modular reactor. Holtec and Framatome have entered into an agreement to enable completion of all necessary engineering to fuel the SMR-160 with Framatome’s commercially available and well-proven 17 x 17 GAIA fuel assembly. By adapting the SMR-160…
BWX Tech. Wins $26M to Expand and Upgrade Triso Nuclear Fuel Manufacturing Line Idaho National Laboratory has awarded the nuclear operations subsidiary of BWX Technologies a contract to expand and upgrade its Triso nuclear fuel manufacturing line. The $26m contract will expand BWXT’s capacity for the manufacture of Triso fuel compacts and upgrade existing systems…
Technology Upgrade for Russian Nuclear Fuel Production Russia’s MSZ (Mashinostroitelny Zavod), part of state nuclear corporation Rosatom’s fuel company TVEL, has begun producing uranium dioxide powder for fuel pellets using new technology. A new site has started a pilot operation for the production of uranium dioxide powder by the reduction pyrohydrolysis method (RPGU). The large-scale…
Westinghouse and ENUSA Install EnCore Fuel for the First Time in Europe Westinghouse Electric Company and ENUSA Industrias Avanzadas (ENUSA) announced the installation of EnCore Fuel at Engie Electrabel’s Doel-4 nuclear power plant in Belgium. This installation marks the first insertion of EnCore Fuel rod assemblies in Europe, and the second insertion into a commercial…
New IAEA Spent Fuel and Radioactive Waste Database In close cooperation with the European Commission and the OECD/NEA, the IAEA has launched a new database for spent fuel and radioactive waste that facilitates information sharing and simplifies national reporting in a single easy-to-use platform. The Spent Fuel and Radioactive Waste Information System (SRIS) will provide an authoritative…
New IAEA Publication On The Status of SMR Development A new IAEA publication on small modular reactors (SMRs), among the most promising emerging technologies in nuclear power, can help countries identify reactor designs to suit their needs as they look for reliable and affordable energy sources to slash greenhouse gas emissions and drive sustainable development.…
A Successful Irradiation For Framatome’s 3D-Printed Nuclear Fuel Elements Framatome’s 3D-printed nuclear fuel elements successfully completed the first cycle of irradiation in operating conditions at the Gösgen Nuclear Power Plant, Switzerland. These experimental stainless steel and nickel-based alloy components were installed here in 2019 for a five-cycle programme. Additive manufacturing accelerates product development and the…
NRG And Terrestrial Energy Start Graphite Irradiation Testing For IMSR ENS Corporate Member Nuclear Research and Consultancy Group (NRG) and Terrestrial Energy have started a graphite irradiation testing programme for the Integral Molten Salt Reactor power plant at NRG’s high flux research reactor (HFR) at Petten in the Netherlands. The work is part of a…
Tecnatom Supplies a New Nuclear Fuel Inspection Equipment The Spanish nuclear fuel manufacturer ENUSA now has a new UT3P ultrasonic system for the automatic inspection of welds at its Juzbado facility, supplied by Tecnatom. With this equipment, Juzbado now has two completely updated lines for the automatic welding of nuclear fuel rod plugs. The purpose…
Framatome’s GAIA EATF Technology Completes Its First-Ever Fuel Cycle Framatome’s GAIA Enhanced Accident Tolerant Fuel (EATF) technology recently completed its first 18-month fuel cycle at a nuclear power plant in the US. The French company, ENS Corporate Member, said this marks the first time a full-length EATF concept with both pellets and cladding has completed…