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ABSTRACT
This article deals with the design and fabrication of uranium-based fuels and focuses on fuels for pressurized-water reactors which still remain to date the main source of electric energy production in France. The industry of uranium-based nuclear fuels has acquired a great maturity. Indeed, thousands of tons of the UO2 fuel are fabricated every year in France with a very high level of quality. Despite these very satisfactory results, numerous research and development programs are being conducted in order to improve the performances, reliability, safety and competitiveness of fuels for the decades to come.
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Read the articleAUTHORS
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Yannick GUÉRIN: Director of Research at the French Atomic Energy Commission (CEA)
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Jean HENCKES: Technical Director, Fuel Manufacturing, AREVA - (Revision of a file previously written by Georges MONEYRON)
INTRODUCTION
In this dossier, we look at the design and manufacture of uranium-based fuels, focusing on pressurized water reactor fuels, which are currently the main source of electricity generation in France.
After presenting the role of nuclear fuel in general, the dossier reviews uranium-based fuels for the various nuclear reactor systems in service around the world. The case of fuels for light water reactors, and more specifically for PWR-type reactors (pressurized water reactors) such as those used in France, is then described in greater detail: their design, the phenomena limiting their operating range, and the main stages in their manufacture.
Today, the uranium-based nuclear fuel industry is highly mature. Thousands of tonnes are manufactured every year, with in-service performance having improved considerably over the years. Despite this, nuclear fuel continues to be the focus of numerous research and development programs, both in terms of improving performance and of fuels for the decades to come.
Readers are also referred to the files in this treatise:
Water chemistry and corrosion in PWRs
[BN 3 750] Thermomechanics of pressurized water reactor fuel
[B 3 060]
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Design and manufacture of uranium-based fuels
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