For irradiation in the ATR research reactor. This is one of the final stages of preparation for practical tests, the results of which will become the basis for licensing the technology and entering the market.
The new fuel is made of an alloy of uranium and zirconium and has increased thermal conductivity, which allows for more efficient heat removal and operation at lower temperatures. Such characteristics increase the reliability margin and reduce core wear, which is especially important for small modular reactors and modernization of existing power units.
The tests are carried out under an agreement between lightbridge and INL. After irradiation, the samples will be examined in hot chambers to analyze the structure and stability of the material. Successful results could make lightbridge fuel the first industrially applicable alternative to traditional uranium oxide in decades.
