Fuel & Materials Performance
Published: 11 January 2011
Fuel rods and other materials associated with reactors are subject to stress during operation. To ensure that fuels and cladding retain the necessary characteristics for reliable and stable operation as long as possible, these characteristics are tested in Studsvik's laboratories. Material tests to verify resistance in various operational conditions right until the end of their lifetime are also conducted in Studsvik's proprietary laboratories. Studsvik has been offering testing in reactor environments in co-operation with IFE, Institutt for Energiteknikk, in Norway since 2005.
The aim is to:
- Enhance the reactor's unit capability factor by reducing fuel and materials related limitations during operation
- Reduce fuel costs by verifying fuel integrity under anticipated operating conditions and enhance fuel burn up
- Verify materials lifetimes, improve safety and avoid the need for unnecessary component replacement
- Collect data to optimize operation and which can improve safety
- Produce information upon which decisions on materials applications can be made
Published by:Inger Wahlström