Grant: Collaborative Research and Development Grants

This project will improve fuel reliability both from the perspective of manufacturing and in-reactor fuel performance. Proposals identified have arisen following numerous projects over the past many years, conducted by Dr. Paul Chan and Dr. Brent Lewis et al of RMC on CANLUB and Dr. Mahesh Pandey (of the University of Waterloo (U of W)) on statistical based assessment. CANLUB is a thin layer of graphite coating (6 um) applied to the inner surface of a CANDU fuel element to mitigate stress corrosion cracking (SCC) of Zircaloy. This proposal is in respond to the CANDU industry request to develop CANLUB coating options. Objective here are to ensure a secure supply of CANLUB coating and to support high burnup operation against SCC (during power cycling). Alternative coatings (aqueous- and organic- based) will be proposed for future qualification through irradiation testing. This proposal further supports CANLUB development under the ongoing AECL demountable elements testing in NRU.To demonstrate realistic fuel performance margins, Cameco Fuel Manufacturing (CFM) data will be statistically evaluated and integrated with fuel design and mechanistic codes. A reliability-based approach to nuclear fuel design is an innovative aspect of the proposed work and the benefit could be recognized in short-term. RMC and U of W have signed a non-disclosure agreement with CFM. This is a new exciting area that involves collaboration with CFM's critical manufacturing data and U of W's reliability/risk model.This collaboration will also provide an advancement of closer linkages with Cameco Corporation and the U of W. HQPs will have work-term(s) attachment both to CFM and U of W.