Status of Knowledge for the Qualification and Licensing of Advanced Nuclear Fuels for Water Cooled Reactors

Abstract

The objective of this publication is primarily to identify and collect the status of knowledge in Member States on the applicability to advanced fuels of regulatory requirements, acceptance criteria and regulatory guidance documents that have been developed for the licensing of current nuclear fuel systems This publication also aims at reviewing the status of qualification and licensing of some advanced fuel technologies for water cooled reactors, with a focus on evolutionary as well as revolutionary technologies. In addition, this publication considers the applicability of the current IAEA Safety Requirements and Safety Guides in addressing the safety of advanced fuel in design and operation, identifying possible specific aspects which may be transposed into recommendations in the future. It is anticipated that some recommendations of the IAEA Safety Standards Series No. SSG-52, Design of the Reactor Core for Nuclear Power Plants [3] will be affected by specific features of advanced nuclear fuels.