The challenges for realization of above 5 wt% enrichment fuel proposing Erbia Credit Super High Burnup Fuel

Abstract

For the sake of more efficient operation of nuclear power plants and to reduce the number of spent nuclear fuel assemblies, increasing uranium enrichment is one of the rational options. However, current uranium enrichment for the whole fuel cycle infrastructure is limited to no greater than 5 wt% from the view point of criticality safety. In this review, three main topics are discussed: 1) the necessity of increasing the uranium enrichment above 5 wt%; 2) current status and challenges to go over 5 wt% enrichment; and 3) proposal of the "Erbia Credit Super High Burnup Fuel" as a measure to break the "5 wt% enrichment barrier." The third topic is further elaborated on by discussing the introduction scenarios before concluding with a mention of the necessity of a best-mix analysis for this concept in the fuel cycle supply chain. © Atomic Energy Society of Japan.