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New Nuclear Fuel Rods Endure 3,452F For 120-Day Test, Raising Hopes for Safer Reactors
Nuclear rods are traditionally clad in metal. But a U.S. energy company wants to develop a better, safer alternative that instead uses silicon carbide composites. Working with America's Energy Department, General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems just completed a 120-day irradiation testing period ...
Long-time Slashdot reader fahrbot-bot shared this report from the Interesting Engineering blog:"This success is a key milestone on SiGA cladding's development path to enhance the safety of the existing U.S. fleet of light water reactors," added Scott Forney, president of GA-EMS. Newcleo's SMR can operate at atmospheric pressure, and the company also states that no significant energy release occurs in cases of vessel failure. The article notes that General Atomics's collaboration with the U.S. Energy Department is "part of the Accident Tolerant Fuel Program, a national effort to improve the safety and performance of nuclear reactors."
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