Framatome's GAIA Enhanced Accident Tolerant Fuel completes first-ever fuel cycle

The plant's experts removed and inspected the four lead fuel assemblies (LFAs) during a refueling outage in August and concluded that the fuel demonstrated expected results and excellent performance. This was the first of three planned 18-month cycles of operation for the LFAs, which were inserted into the reactor in April 2019. More detailed inspections and measurements are planned following the remaining two fuel cycles.

"This significant milestone confirms that our EATF technology performs to the industry's highest standards," said Lionel Gaiffe, senior executive vice president, Fuel Business Unit at Framatome. "Our team is committed to advancing this technology so we can offer our customers enhanced safety, efficiency, reliability, and economic and performance benefits."

Framatome developed the GAIA EATF concept as part of its PROtect program. The GAIA fuel assemblies consist of Framatome's advanced chromium coating added to the state-of-the-art M5Framatome zirconium alloy cladding, and chromia-enhanced fuel pellets.

The chromium-coated cladding improves high-temperature oxidation resistance and reduces hydrogen generation in the unlikely event of loss of cooling. The innovative coating also offers increased resistance to debris fretting, reducing the likelihood of a fuel failure during normal operations.

Compared to previous fuel designs, the chromia-enhanced fuel pellets have a higher density, reduced fission gas release and improved behavior under transient conditions. Reduced pellet-to-clad interaction also better supports power maneuvering, increasing performance for operators.

The LFAs were fabricated at Framatome's manufacturing facility in Richland, Washington.