Framatome’s PROtect Enhanced Accident Tolerant Fuel chromium-coated M5Framatome cladding has become the world’s first ATF technology to operate with full length fuel rods at a burnup rate above 60 GWd/tU.

Framatome’s PROtect technology incorporates chromium-coated cladding, which significantly enhances oxidation resistance, improves mechanical performance at high temperatures, and reduces hydrogen generation in the unlikely event of a loss of cooling.

Fuel rods utilising Framatome’s Enhanced Accident Tolerant Fuel E-ATF technology completed four 12-month cycles of operation at the Gösgen nuclear power plant in Switzerland earlier this year. The lead fuel rods consist of Framatome’s advanced chromium coating added to the state-of-the-art M5Framatome zirconium alloy cladding, with uranium dioxide (UO2) fuel pellets for some and with UO2 chromia-enhanced fuel pellets for the others. The fuel assembly was fabricated at Framatome’s fabrication facility in Lingen, Germany.

Visual examinations as well as dimensional changes measurement examinations were carried out during the plant’s scheduled refuelling and maintenance outage in the spring. These confirmed expected results and excellent performance already observed at the end of the three previous cycles of these full-length chromium-coated lead fuel rods.

These lead fuel rods have now been reinserted for a fifth operational cycle, further expanding PROtect’s demonstration of enhanced safety and economic potential for utilities.

“This is the latest demonstration of our PROtect technology advancement and of our commitment to bring new and innovative solutions to the market,” said Lionel Gaiffe, senior executive vice president of Framatome’s Fuel Business Unit. “The success of this project reflects the strong collaboration between Framatome and our customers, which is crucial for the industry and contributes to meeting future energy needs.”

Framatome said its PROtect Enhanced Accident Tolerant Fuel programme has accumulated operational experience across six reactors globally, spanning five different reactor types.

Accident-tolerant fuel is a term used to describe new technologies that enhance the tolerance of light-water reactor fuel under severe accident conditions as well as offering improvements to reactor performance and economics. Such fuels may incorporate the use of new materials and designs for cladding and fuel pellets.

Three vendors - Framatome, GE Hitachi with GNF, and Westinghouse - are working with the US Department of Energy to develop new fuels under its Accident Tolerant Fuel Program.