Distinguished Merit Award: Irradiation Oxidation Fuels Testing Team

Chad Boyer, Than Do, Julien Lang, and Mouna Saoudi

For the irradiation and oxidation testing and evaluation of fuels for next-generation advanced reactors and small modular reactors.

From 2018 to 2021, CNL S&T staff carried out experimental studies to evaluate test fuel irradiated previously in the National Research Universal (NRU) reactor and to carry out oxidation studies to better understand the performance and corrosion characteristics of different advanced fuels. Such studies will help guide the development of improved advanced fuels that could be used in different Small Modular Reactor (SMR) technologies, along with advanced reactors and potentially Advanced Technology Fuels for Generation III+ reactors.

The experiments performed, the measurements taken, and the subsequent data analyses performed by CNL staff scientists demonstrates to the Canadian nuclear industry, and to the international community that CNL is a leading scientific laboratory that is capable of providing science and technology support to enable the successful implementation and exploitation of new nuclear fuel, fuel cycle, and reactor technologies for the benefit of Canada and the world.