Grant: Alliance Grants
The University of Western Ontario
$316,000.00
Addressing long-term containment of Small modular reactor fuel waste using a chemical and materials science approach
EF 2023-24
Résumé
To meet the Nation's goal of reaching net-zero by 2050, Canada has begun to safely develop small modular reactors (SMRs) technology. SMR development and deployment will provide socio-economic benefits including clean electricity, thousands of jobs, and a large increase in our Gross Domestic Product. The high-level fuel waste streams generated from SMRs will be different from the waste generated by CANDU reactors due to novel fuels, coolant media, higher enrichment and temperatures, and different irradiation conditions. To support Canada's investments in SMRs and align with the country's role as a global leader in nuclear research and safety, it is an immediate priority to refine or adapt the Nuclear Waste Management Organization's (NWMO) plan to safely store CANDU fuel waste in a deep geological repository to accommodate a range of fuel wastes being generated by the proposed SMR technologies in Canada. The research project will focus on two topic areas: 1) understanding the interaction of SMR waste streams with the interior of the used fuel container (UFC) prior to container failure including vitrified waste from molten salt reactors (MSR), graphite dust and fission products (FP) from high temperature gas-cooled reactors (HTGR), and galvanic coupling with graphite block fuel assemblies; and 2) investigating the possible synergy of mechanical stress and chemical degradation due to change in UFC size and shape to accommodate larger fuel assemblies, such as for boiling water reactors (BWR).This project strategically involves industry partners who are focused on different aspects of the nuclear industry, including Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL), Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL), Kinectrics, NWMO, and the University Network of Excellence in Nuclear Engineering (UNENE). Together, we will build an understanding of materials degradation in SMR fuel waste disposal environments and integrate results into partners' regulatory, and policy decision-making, and help NWMO develop their preliminary waste acceptance criteria for SMRs.
Programme
Alliance Grants
Bénéficiaire
Emplacement
Ontario, Canada
Type de bénéficiaire
Academia
Type
Grant
Source
NSERC's Awards Data
Tel que publié
Application id
586452-2023
Name nom
Gateman, Samantha SM
Department département
Chemistry
Organization id
36
Institution établissement
The University of Western Ontario
Province en
Ontario
Province fr
Ontario
Country en
CANADA
Country fr
CANADA
Fiscal year exercice financier
2023
Competition year année de concours
2023
Award amount
316000
Program id
ALLRP
Program name en
Alliance Grants
Program name fr
Subventions Alliance
Group en
RESEARCH PARTNERSHIPS
Group fr
PARTENARIATS DE RECHERCHE
Committee code
96
Committee name en
RPP Internal Decision Cttee
Committee name fr
Cté de décision interne - PPR
Area of application code
602
Area of application group en
Construction, urban and rural planning
Area of application group fr
Construction, urbanisme et aménagement rural
Area of application en
Materials performance
Area of application fr
Performance des matériaux
Research subject code
3401
Research subject group en
Physical chemistry
Research subject group fr
Electrochemistry
Research subject en
Chimie physique
Research subject fr
Électrochimie
Application title
Addressing long-term containment of Small modular reactor fuel waste using a chemical and materials science approach
Keyword
Corrosion; Electrochemistry; High Level Nuclear Waste; Materials Degradation; Mechanical Stress; Radiation damage; Small Modular Reactors; Surface Chemistry
Application summary
To meet the Nation's goal of reaching net-zero by 2050, Canada has begun to safely develop small modular reactors (SMRs) technology. SMR development and deployment will provide socio-economic benefits including clean electricity, thousands of jobs, and a large increase in our Gross Domestic Product. The high-level fuel waste streams generated from SMRs will be different from the waste generated by CANDU reactors due to novel fuels, coolant media, higher enrichment and temperatures, and different irradiation conditions. To support Canada's investments in SMRs and align with the country's role as a global leader in nuclear research and safety, it is an immediate priority to refine or adapt the Nuclear Waste Management Organization's (NWMO) plan to safely store CANDU fuel waste in a deep geological repository to accommodate a range of fuel wastes being generated by the proposed SMR technologies in Canada. The research project will focus on two topic areas: 1) understanding the interaction of SMR waste streams with the interior of the used fuel container (UFC) prior to container failure including vitrified waste from molten salt reactors (MSR), graphite dust and fission products (FP) from high temperature gas-cooled reactors (HTGR), and galvanic coupling with graphite block fuel assemblies; and 2) investigating the possible synergy of mechanical stress and chemical degradation due to change in UFC size and shape to accommodate larger fuel assemblies, such as for boiling water reactors (BWR).This project strategically involves industry partners who are focused on different aspects of the nuclear industry, including Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL), Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL), Kinectrics, NWMO, and the University Network of Excellence in Nuclear Engineering (UNENE). Together, we will build an understanding of materials degradation in SMR fuel waste disposal environments and integrate results into partners' regulatory, and policy decision-making, and help NWMO develop their preliminary waste acceptance criteria for SMRs.
