MIDAS - Mechanistic understanding of Irradiation Damage in fuel Assemblies

Started

Nuclear Fission and Fusion(Nuclear Fusion)
Nuclear Fission and Fusion(Nuclear Fission, Nuclear supporting technologies)

Basic and strategic applied research

PHYSICAL SCIENCES AND MATHEMATICS (Metallurgy and Materials)

Not Cross-cutting

Dr M Preuss
Materials
University of Manchester

Dr PG Frankel
Materials
University of Manchester

Standard

EPSRC

01 May 2019

30 April 2026

84 months

£7,226,655

Energy

North West; North West

Energy : Energy

Dr M Preuss, Materials, University of Manchester
Dr PG Frankel, Materials, University of Manchester

Dr DS Balint, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Imperial College London
Dr T B Britton, Materials, Imperial College London
Dr S Dudarev, Culham Division, United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA)
Professor FPE Dunne, Materials, Imperial College London
Professor C Grovenor, Materials, University of Oxford
Dr RJ Harrison, Arts Languages and Cultures, University of Manchester
Dr M Maric, Materials, University of Manchester
Dr M P Moody, Materials, University of Oxford
Dr KL Moore, Materials, University of Manchester
Dr C P Race, Materials, University of Manchester
Dr JD Robson, Materials, University of Manchester
Dr E Tarleton, Materials, University of Oxford
Dr M R Wenman, Materials, Imperial College London
Dr AJ Wilkinson, Materials, University of Oxford

Project Contact, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, USA
Project Contact, Rolls-Royce PLC
Project Contact, Manchester Metropolitan University
Project Contact, University of Western Ontario (UWO), Canada
Project Contact, Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), USA
Project Contact, CEA (Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique), France
Project Contact, EDF Energy
Project Contact, Aalto University, Finland
Project Contact, Wood Nuclear
Project Contact, Westinghouse Electric Sweden AB
Project Contact, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)
Project Contact, London Institute for Mathematical Sciences

In order to meet the UK's carbon reduction targets, and achieve an energy mix that produces less CO2, we must continue to investigate ways in which to make nuclear power cleaner, cheaper and safer. At the same time, as new reactors such as Hinkley Point C are built, the UK needs to develop the work force who will operate, regulate and solve technical problems in civil nuclear power, in order to capitalise on our investment in nuclear energy. Important in this respect is that the UK currently operates mainly old advanced gas-cooled reactors, fundamentally different from the next fleet of UK nuclear power stations, which will be light-water reactors. Key to this change, in terms of this research project, is that Zirconium is a preferred fuel cladding material in LWRs.A major part of a nuclear reactor is the fuel assembly - the structure that encapsulates the highly radioactive nuclear fuel. Understanding the performance of the materials used to make these assemblies is critical for safe, efficient operation, and they must be able to maintain their structure during normal operation, handling and storage, as well as survive in the unlikely event of an accident, when they become crucial in preventing the escape of radioactive materials. Because of the need to operate nuclear reactors as safely as possible, fuel is often removed well before it is spent, as we currently do not know enough about fuel assembly materials, so must adopt a highly cautious, safety-first approach. This does mean, however, that it is more costly to run a reactor, as assemblies must be replaced well before all the fuel is consumed, and this also means the assembly then - prematurely - becomes additional nuclear waste, which must be safely handed and stored, at further high cost.By gaining greater understanding of how assembly materials perform when irradiated, we will be able to make more accurate safety cases, which will mean that fuel assemblies can be used for longer periods without additional risk. Such knowledge will enable the UK to operate the next generation of reactors far more efficiently, significantly reducing the cost of nuclear power. This is particularly important now, given that the UK is going to have light-water, instead of advanced gas-cooled, reactors, and with it the fuel assembly and its material will change very fundamentally.This research effort will also significantly benefit other countries using nuclear energy, which will establish the UK as a centre of expertise in the area. This will further attract inward investment in research and development in the UK, creating future wealth and employment alongside cleaner energy. A second key theme of the project will be to explore the use of zirconium alloys in critical components for future fusion reactors. The UK has a leading position in defining the materials that will be chosen for the ITER and DEMO international fusion projects, and this theme will contribute to maintaining the UK's reputation as a centre of excellence in fusion research

15/08/19