US-based fuel technology company Lightbridge Corporation announced that the first batch of its fuel material samples undergoing irradiation at the Idaho National Laboratory’s (INL) Advanced Test Reactor (ATR) have been removed. They will now be cooled down over the next several months in preparation for post-irradiation examination, which is expected to begin later this year.
Lightbridge is developing a proprietary next-generation nuclear fuel technology for existing light-water and pressurised heavy-water reactors as well as fuel for new small modular reactors. DOE’s Gateway for Accelerated Innovation in Nuclear (GAIN) programme has twice awarded Lightbridge to support its fuel development over the past few years. An extensive worldwide patent portfolio backs Lightbridge’s technology.
Removal of the samples was witnessed by 24 Lightbridge staff including the fuel engineering team and senior management. Discussions were subsequently held with the INL personnel leading the project, including INL Director John Wagner and Associate Director Jess Gehin on progress to date and future steps across multiple Lightbridge projects currently underway at INL.
“The data already developed at the Advanced Test Reactor is a meaningful validation of the innovation and engineering behind Lightbridge Fuel,” said Lightbridge President and CEO Seth Grae. “The data to be collected during the planned post-irradiation examination are expected to support our ongoing fuel performance modelling activities and regulatory licensing efforts for commercial deployment of Lightbridge Fuel.”
The fuel material samples are being tested using INL’s Fission Accelerated Steady-state Testing (FAST) method, an accelerated irradiation technique that uses highly enriched uranium to reach high burnup conditions faster than conventional test methods. Geoffrey “Boone” Beausoleil, Lightbridge’s Director of Materials, played a key role on the INL team that originated the initial concept for FAST and developed the underlying testing methodology during his previous tenure at INL.
Following removal from the ATR, the samples will undergo post-irradiation examination to collect the data on fundamental material properties under high-burnup irradiation conditions. The resulting data developed will support a broader testing programme aimed at confirming the safety, performance, and economic advantages of Lightbridge Fuel.
“The Advanced Test Reactor is the world’s most powerful test reactor and provides unique national capabilities. The data being generated from this campaign with Lightbridge contributes to the broader scientific understanding of advanced nuclear fuel performance under irradiation,” said John Wagner. “Public-private partnerships of this kind are central to INL’s mission of accelerating the development of new nuclear technologies, and we look forward to continuing this work with the Lightbridge team through post-irradiation examination and the additional testing campaigns ahead.”
