General Atomics accelerates nuclear fuel digital twin testing, qualification
Under contract with the DOE, GA-EMS is advancing its SiGA silicon carbide (SiC) composite cladding technology to improve nuclear fuel efficiency and nuclear reactor safety.
One of the four individual models is used to analyze the fiber architecture within SiGA cladding. Source (All Images) | General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems.
On Oct. 2, General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS, San Diego, Calif., U.S.) completed a significant milestone under contract with the Department of Energy (DOE) to develop a nuclear fuel digital twin, a modeling and simulation capability intended to help accelerate the process of nuclear fuel qualification and licensing for current and next-generation reactor materials. GA-EMS completed preliminary development of four individual performance models in support of its SiGA silicon carbide (SiC) composite cladding technology.
“A digital twin is a virtual representation of a physical object or system — in this case, our SiGA cladding nuclear fuel system,” says Scott Forney, president of GA-EMS. “When complete, this digital twin will allow us to predict SiGA performance within a nuclear reactor core, reducing fuel development and testing costs and reducing the time it will take to get regulatory approval for this revolutionary technology, without sacrificing safety.”
The four individual physics-informed models capture the complex mechanical response of SiGA cladding while exposed to irradiation. A multi-scale modeling approach was taken where each individual model covers a different length scale — from a mechanism-based microscale model to a reactor system level model. In future work, these individual models will be combined into one integrated digital twin.
GA-EMS’ SiGA composite is a continuous SiC fiber-reinforced, SiC matrix material that is the backbone of the company’s cladding technology. SiGA cladding provides both safety and economic benefits to the utilities as it can reportedly survive temperatures far beyond that of current materials and reduce the frequency of fuel reloads.
“We have been able to expedite development and verification of the individual models by leveraging the expertise at Los Alamos National Laboratory and Idaho National Laboratory,” says Dr. Christina Back, vice president of GA-EMS Nuclear Technologies and Materials. “Our work integrally involves dedicated laboratory testing as we develop each performance model. We look forward to continuing to the next phase to bring these individual models together and incorporate them into a greater digital twin framework. Use of the framework to apply the separate effects models appropriately will bring a new level of sophistication and accuracy to efficiently predict fuel performance.”
In the ATF program, initiated in 2012 and funded and overseen by the DOE, GA-EMS provides the ceramic matrix composite (CMC) fuel rod cladding that replaces the metal cladding used in current nuclear reactor fuel rods. Above is GA's engineered ATF rod cladding composed of its SiGA technology.
GA-EMS is near completion of a 30-month contract with the DOE to deliver individual models for nuclear-grade SiGA materials to form the basis of a future digital twin. Under a synergistic program, GA-EMS recently announced irradiation testing of its SiC composite tubes and the manufacture of its first full-length (12-foot) SiC composite tubes designed for pressurized water reactors. Under contract with the DOE, GA-EMS is advancing SiGA cladding technology to enhance nuclear fuel efficiency and improve safety for current and future nuclear reactors.
Related Content
-
IMDEA introduces digital twin for real-time analysis of composite materials production
Newly designed digital twin by IMDEA and Technical University of Madrid researchers enables manufacturers to see inside composite materials as they are being produced, facilitating early detection of faults.
-
Aitiip concludes HELACS project with waterjet cutting demonstration
Novel platform involving digital twin and human-robot collaboration succeeded in cutting a component from the 19th section of an A350 wing, highlighting its ability to enable composite structure recycling.
-
Siemens Gamesa, Airborne develop automatic preforming robot system for offshore wind blades
Danish-funded ALMA project furthers collaboration, adds new functionality, advanced sensor systems and digital twinning for reduced man-hours, waste and cost per blade.