US nuclear fuel technology company Lightbridge Corporation has loaded capsules containing Lightbridge fuel material samples into an experiment assembly. The samples comprised of enriched uranium‑zirconium alloy were manufactured at Idaho National Laboratory (INL). The experimental assembly is now ready for insertion into INL’s Advanced Test Reactor (ATR) for irradiation testing, which is expected to begin later this year.
The enriched uranium-zirconium alloy coupon samples, matching the composition intended for Lightbridge’s future commercial Lightbridge Fuel product, were meticulously manufactured and loaded into capsules under stringent quality control and process validation protocols.
During the ATR tests, the experiment assembly will be placed into a designated core position and subjected to irradiation testing in accordance with the existing Cooperative Research & Development Agreement (CRADA) between Lightbridge and INL.
The planned irradiation testing programme, combined with post-irradiation examination activities to be outlined in a forthcoming Project Task Statement, will provide performance data needed to inform Lightbridge’s planned regulatory licensing activities.
“We are proud to collaborate with Lightbridge on the assembly of this irradiation experiment,” said Jess Gehin, INL Associate Laboratory Director for Nuclear Science & Technology. “This is an important step in testing and validating the performance of Lightbridge’s advanced fuel in a test reactor environment.”
Dr Scott Holcombe, Vice President of Engineering at Lightbridge, noted: “This is a pivotal milestone for Lightbridge Fuel development. This achievement brings us closer to obtaining the rigorous irradiation testing data required for regulatory approval and eventual commercialisation of Lightbridge Fuel.”
Lightbridge has entered into two long-term framework agreements with Battelle Energy Alliance, the US Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) operating contractor for INL. DOE’s Gateway for Accelerated Innovation in Nuclear (GAIN) programme has twice awarded Lightbridge to support the development of Lightbridge Fuel. Lightbridge is also participating in two university-led studies through the DOE Nuclear Energy University Program at Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Texas A&M University.
