Innovative coated cladding technology delivers prolonged life, enhanced resistance to wear and increased fuel operating margins due to reduced oxidation and hydrogen pickup achieved during normal operation (250°-350°C). Coated cladding also supports extended exposure to high temperature steam and air (1300°-1400°C) during a loss-of-coolant accident (LOCA) and beyond design basis conditions.

Improves fuel cycle economics and enhances the accident tolerance of conventional uranium dioxide (UO2) fuel pellets. It is a proven technology that has been fueling BWRs in Europe for over 20 years. Enlarged grain size and increased density enables higher burnups and thermal stability, increased pellet cladding interaction margins and enhanced corrosion & washout resistance.

Improves fuel performance, enhances fuel reliability, enables enhanced fuel cycle economics and provides additional margin at uprated conditions & higher burnup. Key features include Low Tin ZIRLO™ mid grids and intermediate flow mixing grids, reinforced dashpot in guide thimble tubes, and the PRIME Bottom Nozzle with innovative debris filter side skirt.

Targeting high fuel duties, improved corrosion resistance, lower hydrogen pick-up and lower creep and growth at burnups up to 75 GWd/MTU. Technical advantages include greater flexibility for coolant chemistry changes, increased pellet cladding interaction margins, and increased thermal margin at higher boiling duties.

This program is focused on advanced fuel technologies, methods and LEU+ manufacturing infrastructure to address utilities’ desire to move to 24-month cycles. These products and technologies, including EnCore^® Fuel, PRIME™ Features, ADOPT™ Pellets and AXIOM^® Cladding, are technically compatible by design and, depending on the unique needs of a utility, can be used altogether and in any combination to deliver measurable benefits.