Research and Test Reactor Fuels

PRO-X-2022-001
ANL/CFCT-21/42
SRNL-TR-2022-00551

Prepared by L. Jamison, Y. Kim, G. Hofman, T. Shehee, N. Karay

Office of Conversion
Material Management and Minimization Program
Office of Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation
National Nuclear Security Administration
U.S. Department of Energy

September 2022
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Contents
Terms and Definitions ................................................................................................................................ 7
1. Introduction .......................................................................................................................................... 9
2. Research Reactor Classes .................................................................................................................. 10
2.1 Research Reactor Fuel Types by Power Level .............................................................................. 10
2.2 Research Reactor Fuels by Utilization ........................................................................................... 14
2.3 Conclusions .................................................................................................................................... 18
3. Fuel Element Fabrication .................................................................................................................. 19
3.1 Plate-Type Fuel .............................................................................................................................. 19
3.1.1 Plate-Type Dispersion Fuel..................................................................................................... 20
3.1.2 Plate-Type Monolithic Fuel..................................................................................................... 22
3.2 Co-Extruded Fuel ........................................................................................................................... 23
3.3 Pin-Type Fuel ................................................................................................................................ 24
3.3.1 Oxide Pellet ............................................................................................................................. 24
3.3.2 U-ZrHx (TRIGA®) ................................................................................................................... 25
4. Research Reactor Fuel Types ............................................................................................................ 26
4.1 Plate-Type Fuels ............................................................................................................................ 26
4.1.1 Plate-Type Dispersion Fuels ................................................................................................... 26
4.1.2 Plate-Type Monolithic Fuels ................................................................................................... 33
4.2 Rod-Type Fuels.............................................................................................................................. 37
4.2.1 Rod-Type Dispersion Fuels ..................................................................................................... 37
4.2.2 Rod-Type Monolithic Fuels ..................................................................................................... 39
5. Research Reactor Cladding Types .................................................................................................... 43
5.1 Aluminum Alloy ............................................................................................................................ 43
5.2 Stainless Steel ................................................................................................................................ 43
5.3 Zirconium Alloy ............................................................................................................................ 44
6. Research and Test Reactor Fuel Fabricators................................................................................... 45
6.1 MTR Fuel Fabricators .................................................................................................................... 45
6.2 BWXT ............................................................................................................................................ 45
6.3 CERCA .......................................................................................................................................... 46
6.4 NUKEM ......................................................................................................................................... 46
6.5 TVEL ............................................................................................................................................. 46

Research & Test Reactor Fuels | 3

 6.6 GA (General Atomics) ................................................................................................................... 47
6.7 Other Fuel Fabricators ................................................................................................................... 47
7. Future Work ....................................................................................................................................... 48
References .................................................................................................................................................. 49
Appendix A: Research Reactors Operating with LEU Fuel ................................................................. 51
Appendix B: Research Reactor Information .......................................................................................... 59
Appendix C: Research Reactors Converted Under the M3 Program .................................................. 83

Research & Test Reactor Fuels | 4

List of Tables
Table 1. LEU fuel types used by research and test reactors at thermal power levels equal to and greater
than 10 MW................................................................................................................................................. 11
Table 2. LEU fuel types used by research and test reactors at thermal power levels between 1 and 10 MW.
.................................................................................................................................................................... 12
Table 3. LEU fuel types used by research and test reactors at thermal power levels less than 1 MW. ....... 13
Table 4. LEU fuels in use by research and test reactors operated for greater than 4000 hours per year. .... 14
Table 5. LEU fuels in use by research and test reactors operated between 700 and 4000 hours per year. . 15
Table 6 LEU fuels in use by research and test reactors operated for less than 700 hours per year. ............ 16
Table 7. Properties of structural materials at room temperature ................................................................. 43

Research & Test Reactor Fuels | 5

List of Figures
Figure 1. Illustration of the distribution of LEU fuel types in use by power level (greater than or equal to
10 MW, 1-10 MW, and less than 1 MW). ................................................................................................... 10
Figure 2. Illustration of the distribution of LEU fuel types in use categorized by utilization in hours per
year. ............................................................................................................................................................. 14
Figure 3. Schematic diagrams of dispersion and monolithic plate-type fuels. ........................................... 19
Figure 4. Exploded view of the fuel plate assembly. .................................................................................. 20
Figure 5. Fabrication flow diagram of plate-type dispersion fuel [adapted from Reference[2]]. ............... 21
Figure 6. Fabrication flow diagram of plate-type monolithic fuel. ............................................................. 22
Figure 7. Fabrication flow diagram of co-extruded fuel. ............................................................................ 23
Figure 8. Fabrication flow diagram of pin-type oxide fuel. ........................................................................ 24
Figure 9. Fabrication flow diagram of U-ZrHx (TRIGA®) fuel. ................................................................ 25
Figure 10. Schematic illustrating recoil zones in a dispersion fuel............................................................. 26
Figure 11. U-density of research reactor fuel versus time of first use. ....................................................... 28
Figure 12. Optical micrograph of irradiated U3O8-Al [7] dispersion fuel. ................................................ 29
Figure 13. Morphology of irradiated UAlx -Al dispersion fuel [4]. ............................................................ 30
Figure 14. SEM images of comminuted powder and atomized powder of U3Si2 [10] ............................... 31
Figure 15. Microstructural evolution of U3Si2-Al fuel by irradiation [4]. ................................................ 32
Figure 16. Post-irradiation examination of plate-type UMo-Al dispersion irradiated to 78% LEU burnup
(or 5.7×1021 f/cm3) [4]. ............................................................................................................................... 32
Figure 17. Characterization of a) pre-irradiated [14] and b) irradiated [15] UAl alloy fuel. ...................... 34
Figure 18: Core configuration of Westinghouse designed S1W reactor adopting UZr monolithic fuel [17].
.................................................................................................................................................................... 35
Figure 19. Post-irradiation metallographs of UZr fuel showing phase-dependent fission gas bubble
morphologies [18]. ...................................................................................................................................... 36
Figure 20. Post-irradiation metallographs of a UMo monolithic fuel plate after irradiation to 59% LEU
burnup [20].................................................................................................................................................. 37
Figure 22. SEM images of the fractured surfaces of U-silicide fuels irradiated in the ORR at temperature
~100 °C [4]. ................................................................................................................................................ 38
Figure 23. Rod-type U3Si-Al dispersion fuel used for HANARO [22]. ..................................................... 39
Figure 23: Characterization of pre-irradiated and post-irradiated U-ZrHx fuel [23]. .................................. 40
Figure 24. Flow diagram of UF6 to UO2 conversion process...................................................................... 41

Research & Test Reactor Fuels | 6

Terms and Definitions
AA: aluminum alloy
AECL: Atomic Energy of Canada Limited
ALD: atomic layer deposition
AREVA: Created by the merger of Framatome (later: Areva NP, now: Framatome) COGEMA (later:
Areva NC, now: Orano Cycle) and Technicatome (later: Areva TA, now: Technicatome)
Argonne: Argonne National Laboratory
ATR: Advanced Test Reactor, INL
bcc: body-centered cubic
BR2: Belgian Reactor 2
BSE: back-scattered electron
B&W: Babcock and Wilcox, currently BWXT
BWTX: BWX Technologies Inc., previously The Babcock & Wilcox Company
CDTN: Centro de Desenvolvimento da Tecnologia Nuclear
CEA: Commissariat à l'énergie atomique
CERCA: Compagnie pour l’ Etude et la Réalisation de Combustibles Atomiques
CNEA: Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica
CNEN: Comissão Nacional de Energia Nuclear
CNL: Canadian Nuclear Laboratories
CNNC: China National Nuclear Corporation
COGEMA: Compagnie générale des matières nucléaires (later: Areva NC, now: Orano Cycle)
D9: a titanium-modified austenitic stainless steel
EBR: Experimental Breeder Reactor
ETR: Engineering Test Reactor
FIMA: Fissions per Initial Metal Atom
FLIP: Fuel Life Improvement Program
Framatome: later: Areva NP, now: Framatome
GA: General Atomics
HALEU: High Assay Low-Enriched Uranium Fuel; fuel with enrichment as close to 20% without going
over as fabrication tolerances allow, typically 19.75-19.9%
HANARO: High-flux Advanced Neutron Application Reactor
HBS: high-burnup structure
HEU: highly enriched uranium, defined as fuel with 20% or greater U-235 enrichment
(Fuel X)-Al (or Mg, PE): indicates a dispersion fuel of fuel X in an aluminum (or magnesium,
polyethylene) matrix
HFIR: High Flux Isotope Reactor, ORNL
HIP: hot isostatic pressing
HT9: 12%-Cr and 1%-Mo steel (nominal Fe-12Cr-1Mo-0.5W-0.5Ni-0.25V-0.2C (in wt%))
KAERI: Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute
IAEA: International Atomic Energy Agency
IL: interaction layer
INL: Idaho National Laboratory
IPEN: Nuclear and Energy Research Institute
KAERI: Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute
LEU: low-enriched uranium, defined as fuel with less than 20% U-235 enrichment
LEU burnup: U-235 depletion based on 20% U-235 enrichment

Research & Test Reactor Fuels | 7

LWR: light water reactor
M3: Material Management and Minimization (a National Nuclear Security Administration program)
MITR: Massachusetts Institute of Technology Nuclear Research Reactor
MNSR(s): Miniature Neutron Source Reactor(s)
MOX: Mixed-Oxide fuels; a combination of UO2,PuO2, and/or ThO2.
MTR: Materials Testing Reactor
MURR®: University of Missouri-Columbia Research Reactor
NBSR: National Institute of Standards and Technology Research Reactor)
NRC: Nuclear Regulatory Commission (United States)
NRU: National Research Universal reactor (Canada)
NU: natural uranium
NUKEM: Nukem Technologies, GmbH
OM: optical microscopy
ORNL: Oak Ridge National Laboratory
ORR: Oak Ridge Reactor, currently undergoing decommissioning
P: Proliferation concern
PE: polyethylene
Proliferability: Proliferability is a measure of the degree of difficulty in diverting material that could be
used to produce weapons usable nuclear material.
PRO-RR: Proliferation Resistance Optimization of Research Reactors (program element under the broader
PRO-X program
PRO-X: Proliferation Resistance Optimization program
PVD: physical vapor deposition
Q: Quality concern
Quality: Quality is a measure of the degree of difficulty to isolate individual isotopes.
RERTR: Reduced Enrichment for Research and Test Reactors
R: Reversibility concern
Reversibility: Reversibility describes the ease with which fuels may be dissolved to a liquid form. It can
be mitigated through the application of coatings, selection of fuel types (e.g., oxides) or
incorporation of additives that inhibit the ability to dissolve the fuel.
RR: research reactor
S: Separability concern
S1W: Submarine-1st generation-Westinghouse
SEM: scanning electron microscopy
Separability: Separability describes the ease and efficiency with which elements may be extracted from
their dissolved form. It can be mitigated through the addition of precursors to challenge the ability
to separate individual isotopes/elements (e.g., increased U-236 content in fuel to breed Np-237 and
Pu-238).
SS: Stainless Steel
SRNL: Savannah River National Laboratory
Technicatome: (later: Areva TA, now: Technicatome)
TRISO: TRi-structural ISOtropic particle fuel
TRIGA®: Training, Research, Isotopes, General Atomics
WUNM: Weapons Usable Nuclear Material

Research & Test Reactor Fuels | 8

1. Introduction
PRO-RR is the research reactor focused program element of the broader Proliferation Resistance
Optimization program (PRO-X) under the National Nuclear Safety Administration (NNSA) in the U.S.
Department of Energy (DOE). PRO-X provides a framework for integrating proliferation resistance in
nuclear system designs to minimize weapons usable nuclear materials (WUNM) production and diversion
pathways while optimizing systems performance for peaceful use missions. PRO-RR applies the PRO-X
mission objectives to research reactor system design. This document serves as one of the foundational
documents for the PRO-RR-Fuel System Design technical team by documenting current research reactor
fuels usage. The PRO-RR-Fuel System Design technical team consists of subject matter experts from
Argonne National Laboratory (Argonne) and Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL).

In order to determine the preferred fuel of use in upcoming research and test reactors to optimize
proliferation resistance, performance, and safety, it is useful to assess the fuels that have been used in the
past, or are currently in use. This report reviews the historical and current fuels used in research and test
reactors to inform future fuel selection. Chapter 2 discusses the low-enriched uranium (LEU) fuels currently
in use in terms of thermal power level and utilization of the reactor. Chapter 3 summarizes the fabrication
processes for common fuel types. Chapter 4 discusses in detail the fuel types in use in research and test
reactors. A review of the cladding types in use is presented in Chapter 5, and a historical review of research
and test reactor fuel fabricators is presented in Chapter 6.

The data collection strategy used the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) research reactor database
[1] as a starting point. Information on the fuel used was gathered on research reactors (other than critical
assemblies) that were listed as operational, planned, or in temporary shutdown in the IAEA database. Data
on the fuel type, geometry, enrichment, uranium loading, cladding type, and fabricator were collected for
each of the reactors available in the public domain. Sources of data included conference papers, journal
articles, and facility and fabricator websites. Data on research reactors operating on LEU fuels are presented
in Appendix A, while Appendix B presents data collected on all reactors at the time of publication of this
report. Appendix C presents data collected on reactors that were part of the M3 research and test reactor
conversion program.

Research & Test Reactor Fuels | 9

2. Research Reactor Classes
Characteristics of research reactors are incredibly varied, ranging in power level across several magnitudes,
a wide range of applications, and a broad range of fuel forms, as detailed in Appendix A (LEU fuels
database). This section will discuss the LEU fuel types used by currently operating, temporarily shut down,
and planned research reactors, classified by power level and usage. This tabulated data can be used to inform
selection of a fuel form for future research reactors, as the most common fuel types in use are more likely
to have a robust supply chain available.

2.1 Research Reactor Fuel Types by Power Level

In order to examine the research reactor fuel types by power level, the research reactors collected in the
database were split into high, medium, and low thermal power levels based on the values documented in
the IAEA Research Reactor Database [1]. High-power reactors are defined as those operating at 10 MW or
higher thermal power, medium-power reactors are those operating from 1 MW up to 10 MW thermal power,
and low-power reactors were defined as those with thermal power less than 1 MW. Fuel information comes
from a wide range of sources, which are documented in Appendix B for individual reactors. This assessment
focused on operating, planned, or temporarily shut down reactors. The fuel type in use by power type is
illustrated in Figure 1 and numerated in Table 1-Table 3.

25

20 >10MW
Number of Reactors

1-10 MW
15

<1MW
10

Figure 1. Illustration of the distribution of LEU fuel types in use by power level (greater than or equal to 10 MW, 1-10 MW, and
less than 1 MW).
Dispersion type fuel is designated by A-B where A is fuel and B is matrix. PE is abbreviation of polyethylene.

Twenty-eight research reactors, with LEU fuel type information readily available, operate at thermal powers
greater than or equal to 10 MW, as documented in the IAEA database [1]. The fuel type, enrichment, fuel
geometry, cladding type, and operating powers of these reactors are summarized in Table 1 and are detailed
in Appendix A. The numbers in parentheses indicate the number of reactors with that particular enrichment,
geometry, cladding type, or power level that use the particular fuel type.

Research & Test Reactor Fuels | 10

Table 1. LEU fuel types used by research and test reactors at thermal power levels equal to and greater than 10 MW.
Numbers in parentheses are the number of reactors.

Fuel Type Enrichment Geometry Cladding Type Thermal Power

(% U-235) (MW)
U-ZrHx HALEU (1) Disc (1) Incoloy-800 (1) 14 (1)
U3Si2-Al HALEU (11) Plate (9) Aluminuma (11) 125(1)
Tube (2) 60 (1)
45 (1)
30 (4)
20 (2)
10 (2)
UO2 6% (2) Rod (3) Zirconiumb (2) 200 (1)
4% (1) Disc (1) Stainless Steel (1) 30 (1)
3% (1) Graphite (1) 25 (1)
15 (1)
U3O8-Al HALEU (3) Plate (3) Aluminuma (3) 22 (1)
20 (1)
10 (1)
UO2-Al HALEU (3) Tubes (2) Aluminuma (3) 10 (3)
Plate (1)
U NU (1) Rod (1) Zirconiumb (1) 100 (1)
MOX 18% (1) Rod (1) Unknown (1) 140 (1)
U3Si-Al HALEU (1) Rod (1) Aluminuma (1) 30 (1)
UAlx-Al HALEU (1) Tube (1) Aluminuma (1) 10 (1)
UO2-TRISO 17% (1) Sphere (1) Graphite/SiC multilayer (1) 10 (1)
U7Mo-Al HALEU (1) Plate (1) Aluminuma (1) 15 (1)
aAluminum represents both pure aluminum and aluminum-based alloys
bZirconium represents both pure zirconium and zirconium-based alloys

From Table 1, the most common fuel type used at thermal power levels equal to or greater than 10 MW is
U3Si2-Al plate-type dispersion fuel, alongside other plate-type dispersion fuels. Future activities will
evaluate the proliferation resistance of the fabrication processes for metallic and oxide-based dispersion
fuel plates.

Thirty-five research reactors, with LEU fuel type information readily available, operate at thermal powers
equal to 1 MW and up to 10 MW, as documented in the IAEA database. The fuel type, enrichment, fuel
geometry, cladding type, and operating powers of these reactors are summarized in Table 2, and are detailed
in Appendix A. The numbers in parentheses indicate the number of reactors with that particular enrichment,
geometry, cladding type, or power level that use the particular fuel type.

Research & Test Reactor Fuels | 11

Table 2. LEU fuel types used by research and test reactors at thermal power levels between 1 and 10 MW.
Numbers in parentheses are the number of reactors.

Fuel Type Enrichment Geometry Cladding Thermal Power

(% U-235) (MW)
U-ZrHx HALEU (17) Rod (3) Stainless Steel (17) 3 (1)
Disc (14) 2 (4)
1.3 (1)
1.1 (2)
1 (9)
U3Si2-Al HALEU (9) Plate (9) Aluminuma (10) 5 (5)
17% (1) Tube (1) 3 (1)
2.3 (1)
2 (2)
1 (1)
UO2 10 (1) Rod (2) Zirconiumb (1) 5 (1)
6 and 4% (1) 1 (1)
3% (1)
U3O8-Al HALEU (2) Plate (2) Aluminuma (2) 5 (1)
1 (1)
UO2-Al HALEU (1) Tube (1) Aluminuma (1) 6 (1)
U NU (1) Rod (1) Aluminuma (1) 1 (1)
UO2-Mg 10% (1) Rod (1) Unknown (1) 3.5 (1)
aAluminum represents both pure aluminum and aluminum-based alloys
bZirconium represents both pure zirconium and zirconium-based alloys

The most common fuel type in this thermal power range is U-ZrHx (TRIGA®) fuel, followed by U3Si2-Al.
Metallic pin-type fuel and metallic dispersion fuel fabrication processes will be analyzed for proliferation
resistance in future activities.

Fifty-four research reactors, with well-known fuel information, operate at thermal powers less than 1 MW.
The fuel type, enrichment, fuel geometry, cladding type, and operating powers of these reactors are
summarized in Table 3, and are detailed in Appendix A. The numbers in parentheses indicate the number
of reactors with that particular enrichment, geometry, cladding type, or power level that use the particular
fuel type.

Research & Test Reactor Fuels | 12

Table 3. LEU fuel types used by research and test reactors at thermal power levels less than 1 MW.
Numbers in parentheses are the number of reactors.

Fuel Type Enrichment (% U-235) Geometry Cladding Thermal Power (kW)

U-ZrHx HALEU (18) Rod (8) Stainless Steelc (18) 500 (1)
Disc (10) Aluminuma,c (3) 300 (1)
250 (11)
100 (4)
30 (1)
U3Si2-Al HALEU (5) Plate (5) Aluminuma (5) 700 (1)
500 (2)
200 (1)
1 (1)
UO2d HALEU (5) Rod (14) Aluminuma (2) 40 (1)
13% (5) Zirconiumb (12) 30 (5)
12% (1) 27 (1)
1.6-4.4% (1) 20 (3)
1.8-3.4% (1) 5 (1)
NU (1) 0.2 (1)
0.01 (2)
U3O8-Al HALEU (2) Plate (2) Aluminuma (2) 100 (1)
0.2 (1)
UO2-Al HALEU (2) Plate (2) Aluminuma (2) 500 (1)
5(1)
Ud NU (1) Rod (1) Zirconiumb (1) 0.2 (1)
a
UO2-Mg 10% (3) Rod (2) Aluminum (3) 250 (1)
Tube (1) 100 (1)
50 (1)
U4O9-PE HALEU (1) Plate (1) Graphite (1) 0.002 (1)
UO2-PE HALEU (5) Rod (2) Graphite (4) 0.2 (1)
Disc (2) Unknown (1) 0.01 (1)
Plate (1) 0.005 (3)
U3O8-PE HALEU (1) Rod (1) Graphite (1) 0.001 (1)
UCd NU (1) Rod (1) Zirconiumb (1) 0.2 (1)
Uranyl Nitrate 4, 6, and 10% (1) Liquid (1) Stainless Steel (1) 0.2 (1)
Uranyl Sulfate HALEU (1) Liquid (1) Stainless Steel (1) 20 (1)
UAl 100% U-233 Plate (1) Unknown (1) 30 (1)
aAluminum represents both pure aluminum and aluminum-based alloys
bZirconium represents both pure zirconium and zirconium-based alloys
cTwo reactors use both aluminum and stainless steel cladding
dOne reactor operates with UO , U, and UC concurrently
2

Research & Test Reactor Fuels | 13

The two most common fuel types in this power range are U-ZrHx (TRIGA®) and UO2 Ceramic pin-type
fuel fabrication processes will be assessed for proliferation resistance in future activities.

Based on the common fuel types found here, priority activities to assess the proliferation resistance, and
opportunities to improve performance and safety, of the fabrication processes will be for metallic and oxide
dispersion fuels and metallic (TRIGA®) and oxide pin-type fuels.

2.2 Research Reactor Fuels by Utilization

In addition to the wide range of power levels discussed in the previous section, the utilization of research
reactors varies widely, as illustrated in Figure 2.

25

20 >4000 hours/year
Number of Reactors

700-4000 hours/year
15
<700 hours/year
10

Figure 2. Illustration of the distribution of LEU fuel types in use categorized by utilization in hours per year.
Dispersion type fuel is designated by A-B where A is fuel and B is matrix. PE is abbreviation of polyethylene

The following tables summarize the reactors operating for 4000 hours (approximately six months, Table 4)
or greater, from 700 to 4000 hours per year (approximately one to six months of operation, Table 5) and
less than 700 hours per year (Table 6). Note that the <700 hours per year category includes reactors that did
not have hours in operation listed on the IAEA research reactor database [1]. The numbers in parentheses
indicate the number of reactors using the fuel type with that particular characteristic.

Table 4. LEU fuels in use by research and test reactors operated for greater than 4000 hours per year.
Numbers in parentheses are the number of reactors.

Fuel Enrichment Utilization Power

Geometry Cladding
Type (% U-235) (hours/year) (MW)
U-ZrHx HALEU (1) Rod (1) Incoloy-800 (1) 6000-7000 (1) 14 (1)
a
U3Si2-Al HALEU (5) Plate (4) Aluminum (5) 7000-8000 (1) 45 (1)
Tube (1) 5000-6000 (1) 30 (1)
4000-5000 (3) 20 (1)
3 (1)
2.3 (1)

Research & Test Reactor Fuels | 14

 Fuel Enrichment Utilization Power
Geometry Cladding
Type (% U-235) (hours/year) (MW)
UO2 HALEU (1) Rod (2) Aluminuma (1) 6000-7000 (1) 200 (1)
4% Zirconiumb (1) 4000-5000 (1) 0.04 (1)
U3O8-Al HALEU (3) Plate (3) Aluminuma (3) >8000 (1) 20 (1)
5000-6000 (1) 10 (1)
4000-5000 (1) 5 (1)
UO2-Al HALEU (1) Tube (1) Aluminuma (1) 5000-6000 (1) 10 (1)
U NU (1) Rod (1) Zirconiumb (1) >8000 (1) 100 (1)
MOX 18 % (1) Rod (1) Unknown (1) 5000-6000 (1) 140 (1)
U3Si-Al HALEU (1) Rod (1) Aluminuma (1) 4000-5000 (1) 30 (1)
aAluminum represents both pure aluminum and aluminum-based alloys
bZirconium represents both pure zirconium and zirconium-based alloys

Fourteen research reactors are utilized for six months or more of the year (assuming 24 hours a day, 7 days
a week operation). As can be seen in Table 4, of these reactors, U3Si2-Al and U3O8-Al plate-type dispersion
fuels are the most common. One item to note is that the power level alone is not indicative of the degree of
utilization of the reactor, as the powers range from 200 MW down to 40 kW in the most-used research
reactors.

Table 5. LEU fuels in use by research and test reactors operated between 700 and 4000 hours per year.
Numbers in parentheses are the number of reactors.

Fuel Enrichment Geometry Cladding Utilization Power

Type (% U-235) (hours/year) (MW)
U-ZrHx HALEU (22) Rod (6) Stainless Steelc (22) 3000-4000 (1) 3 (1)
Disc (16) Aluminuma,c (1) 2000-3000 (3) 2 (3)
700-2000 (18) 1.1 (2)
1 (7)
0.25 (6)
0.1 (2)
0.03 (1)

U3Si2-Al HALEU (13) Plate (11) Aluminuma (13) 3000-4000 (2) 125 (1)
Tube (2) 2000-3000 (3) 30 (1)
700-2000 (8) 10 (2)
5 (4)
1 (1)
0.7 (1)
0.5 (2)
0.2 (1)

Research & Test Reactor Fuels | 15

 Fuel Enrichment Geometry Cladding Utilization Power
Type (% U-235) (hours/year) (MW)
UO2 HALEU (3) Rod (6) Zirconiumb (6) 2000-3000 (3) 5 (1)
6 and 4% (1) 700-2000 (3) 1 (1)
3% (1) 0.02 (3)
1.6-4.4% (1) 0.005 (1)
U3O8-Al HALEU (3) Plate (3) Aluminuma (3) 2000-3000 (1) 22 (1)
700-2000 (2) 0.1 (1)
0.0002 (1)
UO2-Al HALEU (4) Tube (4) Aluminuma (4) 3000-4000 (2) 10 (1)
700-2000 (2) 6 (1)
0.5 (1)
0.005 (1)
U NU (1) Rod (1) Aluminuma (1) 700-2000 (1) 1 (1)
UO2-Mg 10% (2) Rod (2) Aluminuma (1) 2000-3000 (1) 3.5 (1)
Unknown (1) 700-2000 (1) 0.25 (1)
U4O9-PE HALEU (1) Plate (1) Graphite (1) 700-2000 (1) 2E-6 (1)
UAlx-Al HALEU (1) Concentric Aluminuma (1) 700-2000 (1) 10 (1)
Tubes (1)
aAluminum represents both pure aluminum and aluminum-based alloys
bZirconium represents both pure zirconium and zirconium-based alloys
cOne reactor uses both aluminum and stainless steel cladding

In the moderately used reactors listed in Table 5, the most common fuel type is U-ZrHx (TRIGA®),
highlighting the importance of reviewing the fabrication process for proliferation risk, safety improvement,
and performance improvement opportunities in future activities.

Table 6 LEU fuels in use by research and test reactors operated for less than 700 hours per year.
Numbers in parentheses are the number of reactors.

Fuel Type Enrichment Geometry Cladding Utilization Power

(% U-235) (hours/year) (kW)
U-ZrHx HALEU (13) Rod (5) Stainless Steelc (13) 250-700 (7) 2000 (1)
Disc (8) Aluminuma,c (2) <250 (4) 1300 (1)
Unlisted (2) 1000 (2)
500 (1)
300 (1)
250 (5)
100 (2)

Research & Test Reactor Fuels | 16

 Fuel Type Enrichment Geometry Cladding Utilization Power
(% U-235) (hours/year) (kW)
U3Si2-Al HALEU (6) Plate (7) Aluminuma (7) 250-700 (1) 60000 (1)
17% (1) <250 (1) 30000 (2)
Unlisted (5) 5000 (1)
2000 (2)
1 (1)
UO2d HALEU (1) Rod (12) Zirconiumb (9) 250-700 (9) 30000 (1)
13% (5) Disc (1) Aluminuma (1) <250 (1) 25000 (1)
12% (1) Stainless Steel (1) Unlisted (3) 15000 (1)
10% (1) Graphite (1) 3000 (1)
6% (2) Unknown (1) 30 (5)
3% (1) 27 (1)
1.8-3.4% (1) 0.2 (1)
NU (1) 0.01 (2)
U3O8-Al HALEU (1) Plate (1) Aluminuma (1) <250 (1) 1000 (1)
a
UO2-Al HALEU (1) Plate (1) Aluminum (1) 250-700 (1) 10000 (1)
0.1 (2)
Ud NU (1) Rod (1) Zirconiumb (1) 250-700 (1) 0.2 (1)
UO2-Mg 10% (2) Tube (1) Aluminuma (2) 250-700 (1) 100 (1)
Rod (1) Unlisted (1) 50 (1)
UO2-PE HALEU (5) Rod (2) Graphite (4) 250-700 (1) 0.2 (1)
Disc (2) Unknown (1) <250 (2) 0.01 (1)
Plate (1) Unlisted (2) 0.005 (3)

U3O8-PE HALEU (1) Rod (1) Graphite (1) <250 (1) 0.001 (1)
UCd NU (1) Rod (1) Zirconiumb (1) 200-300 (1) 0.2 (1)
UO2-TRISO 17% (1) Sphere (1) Graphite (1) Unlisted (1) 10000 (1)
Uranyl Nitrate 4, 6, and 10% Liquid (1) Stainless Steel (1) 250-700 (1) 0.2 (1)
(1)
Uranyl Sulfate HALEU (1) Liquid (1) Stainless Steel (1) Unlisted (1) 20 (1)
U7Mo-Al HALEU (1) Plate (1) Aluminuma (1) Unlisted (1) 15000 (1)
UAl 100% U-233 Plate (1) Unknown (1) 250-700 (1) 30 (1)
aAluminum represents both pure aluminum and aluminum-based alloys
bZirconium represents both pure zirconium and zirconium-based alloys
cOne reactor uses both aluminum and stainless steel cladding
dOne reactor operates with UO , U, and UC concurrently
2

The most common fuel types for reactors with low utilization are UO2 and U-ZrHx, as seen in Table 6.
Although UO2 is more common in the low utilization reactors, it is in use in some higher utilization research
reactors and is a common power reactor fuel type, so its inclusion in analysis of fuel fabrication processes

Research & Test Reactor Fuels | 17

for proliferation risks, opportunities for performance and safety improvement, and identification of best
practices is justified.

2.3 Conclusions
In reviewing the research reactor classes, the main item that stands out is the broad range of fuels in use
across power levels and utilization. The most common fuels in each of the power level categories, and of
use in higher utilization reactors will be examined in future work to review the fabrication process for
proliferation risks, opportunities for performance and safety improvement, and best practices. A brief
review of the fabrication processes for the more common fuel types is included in Chapter 3.

Research & Test Reactor Fuels | 18

3. Fuel Element Fabrication
As discussed in the previous chapter, common fuel types can be grouped into a few broad categories. In
this chapter, the fabrication flow diagrams for plate-type fuels (dispersion and monolithic), co-extruded
fuel, and pin-type fuel (oxide and U-ZrHx) will be reviewed. Each step in the fabrication step was assessed
for the potential for reversibility (dissolution of the fuel), separability (separation of isotopes), and
proliferability (covert diversion of material). Steps with a particular risk are indicated by a red R
(reversibility concern), S (separability concern), Q (quality concern) or P (proliferation concern). This
evaluation is intended to both give a brief introduction to fabrication processes. Within the fabrication flow
diagram steps, blue steps indicate that the material is in the as-received state, yellow indicates fuel handling
(such as alloying and heat treatment), orange indicates cladding handling (such as rolling and machining),
green indicates fuel meat steps (where the fuel phase is mixed with a matrix phase), and purple indicates
steps where the fuel plate is assembled. Another proliferation concern is the rejection rate of a particular
fabrication step (as that will determine the amount of scrap from a process step). As this is specific to a
particular fabrication process, the proliferation assessment of the rejection rate is to be assessed during
quantitative assessments of a particular fabricators process.

3.1 Plate-Type Fuel

Plate-type fuels can be split into two categories: dispersion and monolithic fuels. Dispersion fuels consist
of fuel particles (metallic or oxide) blended into a matrix (typically aluminum) to form the fuel meat.
Monolithic fuel meat consists of a fuel foil, with or without an interlayer. Schematic diagrams of the cross-
section of these two plate fuel types are shown in Figure 3, below.

Figure 3. Schematic diagrams of dispersion and monolithic plate-type fuels.

Assembled plate-type fuels consist of a top and bottom cover plate, fuel-bearing region, and a picture frame,
as shown in Figure 4.

Research & Test Reactor Fuels | 19

 Cover
plate

Fuel bearing
alloy or meat
compact

Frame

Cover
plate

Figure 4. Exploded view of the fuel plate assembly.

The fabrication steps for plate-type dispersion and monolithic fuels are discussed in the following sections.

3.1.1 Plate-Type Dispersion Fuel

Plate-type dispersion fuel, whether metallic (U3Si2, UAlx-Al, or U-7Mo) or oxide (UO2, U3O8, etc.) are
fabricated following a common set of steps, as shown in Figure 5.

Research & Test Reactor Fuels | 20

 Fabrication step A2 is identified
as having reversibility and
separability concerns. In this
step, the as-received materials
are analyzed to confirm that the
specifications for isotopics and
impurities are met. This requires
dissolution of the as-received
material (reversibility) and
determination of isotopics
(separability, quality).

Fabrication step B3 is identified

as having a proliferation
concern. In this step, the fuel
particles are fabricated, whether
through a grinding or
atomization process. These
fabrication techniques typically
result in the production of over-
and under-sized particles, as
well as hold up within the
fabrication equipment,
presenting an opportunity for
diversion.

Fabrication step C4 is identified

as a proliferation concern.
During this step, cladding cover
plates are marked to identify
individual fuel plates. During
this step, duplicate cover plates
could be marked, such that one
of the duplicate plates could be
diverted later in the fabrication
process.

Fabrication steps E10 and E11

Figure 5. Fabrication flow diagram of plate-type dispersion fuel [adapted from
Reference[2]]. are identified as reversibility
R, S, Q, and P indicate steps where there is a reversibility, separability, quality, or concerns, as they introduce a
proliferation concern. –M indicates a metallic fuel specific fabrication step, -O indicates dissolution capability.
an oxide fuel specific fabrication step.

U3Si2-Al plate-type dispersion fuel was identified as one of the most common fuels used for high power
and high utility reactors. As such, future work will review each of the fabrication steps outlined in Figure 5
for reversibility, separability, and proliferability, and counters for each of the concerns identified.

Research & Test Reactor Fuels | 21

3.1.2 Plate-Type Monolithic Fuel
Although not in current use, monolithic fuel is the planned fuel type to be used to convert high-power
research reactors in the United States and potentially to convert at least one European high-power research
reactor. As such, it is likely to come into more extensive use, so the fabrication process is included in this
report in Figure 6.

Fabrication step A2 is identified

as having reversibility,
separability, and quality
concerns. In this step, the as-
received materials are analyzed
to confirm that the
specifications for isotopics and
impurities are met. This requires
dissolution of the as-received
material (reversibility) and
determination of isotopics
(separability, quality).

Fabrication step B3 is identified

as having a proliferation
concern. In this step, the fuel
foils are trimmed to size,
producing fuel that will not be
incorporated into a fuel plate.
This excess fuel presents an
opportunity for diversion.

Fabrication step C4 is identified

as a proliferation concern.
During this step, cladding cover
plates are marked to identify
individual fuel plates. During
this step, duplicate cover plates
could be marked, such that one
of the duplicate plates could be
diverted later in the fabrication
process.

Fabrication steps E10 and E11

are identified as reversibility
concerns, as they introduce a
dissolution capability.
Figure 6. Fabrication flow diagram of plate-type monolithic fuel.
R, S, Q, and P indicate steps where there is a reversibility, separability, quality, or
proliferation concern.

Research & Test Reactor Fuels | 22

UMo plate-type monolithic fuel is not in current use, but is identified as the primary candidate for
converting several high power research and test reactors in the US from operating on LEU fuel to HEU.
Therefore, this fuel will have significant utilization in the future, and is a candidate fuel for new high-power
research and test reactors. Therefore, future work will review each of the fabrication steps outlined in Figure
6 for reversibility, separability, and proliferability, and counter measures for each of the concerns found.

3.2 Co-Extruded Fuel

Co-extruded fuel comes in a range of geometries (rod, tube), and fuel types (oxide and metallic dispersion).
This fuel type was not one of the more common types, but does have attributes that make it attractive for
proliferation resistance. In particular, it is more difficult to remove the fuel compared to pin-type fuel, and
can be used in similar configurations to pin-type fuel. The fabrication flow diagram for co-extruded fuel is
shown in Figure 7.

Fabrication step A2 is identified

as having reversibility and
separability concerns. In this
step, the as-received materials
are analyzed to confirm that the
specifications for isotopics and
impurities are met. This requires
dissolution of the as-received
material (reversibility) and
determination of isotopics
(separability, quality).

Fabrication steps B1 and B3 are

identified as proliferation
concerns, as both steps produce
excess material (over/under size
particles) and holdup within the
fabrication equipment, leading
to an opportunity for diversion
of material.

Fabrication step E1 is identified

as a proliferation concern. As
the fuel meat and cladding is
extruded, the rods are trimmed
Figure 7. Fabrication flow diagram of co-extruded fuel.
to size, leading to excess
R, S, Q, and P indicate steps where there is a reversibility, separability, quality, or material not incorporated into a
proliferation concern. final fuel element, and an
opportunity for diversion.

Research & Test Reactor Fuels | 23

3.3 Pin-Type Fuel
Pin-type fuels consist of tube cladding, with loose fuel pins contained inside. The space between the pins
and cladding is typically filled with a gas other than atmosphere. The fabrication flow diagrams for pin type
fuel with oxide pellets and U-ZrHx are discussed in the following sub-sections.

3.3.1 Oxide Pellet

Although pin-type oxide pellet fuel is not common in high or moderate utilization research and test reactors,
it is a common power reactor fuel type, so its fabrication process is reviewed here (Figure 8), and will be
evaluated in future work.
Fabrication step A2 is identified as
having reversibility and separability
concerns. In this step, the as-received
materials are analyzed to confirm that
the specifications for isotopics and
impurities are met. This requires
dissolution of the as-received material
(reversibility) and determination of
isotopics (separability, quality).

Fabrication steps B1 and B2 are

identified as proliferation concerns, as
both steps produce excess material
(over/under size particles) and holdup
within the fabrication equipment,
leading to an opportunity for diversion
of material.

Fabrication step B4 is identified as a

proliferation concern, as the trimmings
from machining the pellets to size
present a diversion opportunity.

Fabrication step C3 is identified as a

proliferation concern. During this step,
cladding tubes are marked to identify
individual fuel rods. During this step,
duplicate tubes could be marked, such
that one of the duplicate fueled rods
could be diverted later in the
fabrication process.
Figure 8. Fabrication flow diagram of pin-type oxide fuel.
R, S, Q, and P indicate steps where there is a reversibility, separability, Fabrication step E1 is identified as a
quality, or proliferation concern. reversibility concern, as the cleaning
process may introduce a dissolution
capability.

Research & Test Reactor Fuels | 24

3.3.2 U-ZrHx (TRIGA®)
U-ZrHx fuel, also referred to as TRIGA® (Training, Research, Isotopes, General Atomics) fuel is a common
fuel type across research reactor power classes and utilization. Both pin-type and disc-type U-ZrHx fuels
are fabricated with a similar process (Figure 9), where the aspect ratio of the slug to be inserted into the
cladding is either a cylinder (pin-type), or a thin disc.

Fabrication step A2 is identified as

having reversibility and separability
concerns. In this step, the as-received
materials are analyzed to confirm that
the specifications for isotopics and
impurities are met. This requires
dissolution of the as-received material
(reversibility) and determination of
isotopics (separability, quality).

Fabrication step B3 is identified as a

proliferation concern. During this step,
excess material is trimmed from the fuel
slugs, which could offer an opportunity
for diversion.

Fabrication step C3 is identified as a

proliferation concern. During this step,
cladding tubes are marked to identify
individual fuel rods. During this step,
duplicate tubes could be marked, such
that one of the duplicate fuel rods could
be diverted later in the fabrication
process.

Fabrication step E1 is identified as a

reversibility concern, as the cleaning
Figure 9. Fabrication flow diagram of U-ZrHx (TRIGA®) fuel. process may introduce a dissolution
R, S, Q, and P indicate steps where there is a reversibility, separability, capability.
quality, or proliferation concern.

U-ZrHx fuel is a commonly used fuel for moderately powered research and test reactors. Therefore, it will
be evaluated for proliferation risks, mitigations to those risks, and opportunities to improve performance
and safety.

Research & Test Reactor Fuels | 25

4. Research Reactor Fuel Types
Due to the wide range of applications, research reactors operate on several different fuel types. The
following sections discuss the historical development of plate-type and rod-type research reactor fuels (the
most common fuel geometries), as well as general performance of each of the fuel types. This section is
intended to serve as an introduction to the most common fuel types, including behavior under irradiation.

4.1 Plate-Type Fuels

Plate-type fuels, whether curved or flat, are the most common geometry for research reactor fuels. The
following sections will discuss plate-type dispersion fuels and plate-type monolithic fuels.

4.1.1 Plate-Type Dispersion Fuels

The predominant form of research and test reactor fuels currently in use in the world is that of fuel particles
dispersed in an inert matrix, typically pure aluminum. The fuel-bearing part in a dispersion fuel plate, i.e.,
the fuel particles-matrix mixture zone, is frequently called the ‘fuel meat’ or ‘fuel core’ and is
metallurgically bonded to aluminum-alloy cladding (as previously shown in Figure 3). Hence, no fission
product release from the fuel to the cladding is allowed, which is the most salient difference of the Materials
Testing Reactor (MTR)-type research reactor fuel design from the power reactor fuel design that has a
distinct gap in which fission product release takes place.

In the dispersion fuel product, fuel particles (kernels) are confined by the inert matrix, which provides a
barrier for fission product release. Most fission products are contained within the fuel particles with a
fraction escaping by recoil release. The recoil distance is defined as the distance a fission fragment is able
to travel in a material, dependent upon the fission fragment energy and the properties through which the
fission fragment is traveling. In aluminum, the recoil range of the most energetic fission fragment is
~12 µm. This results in the formation of a recoil zone in the aluminum matrix around the fuel particles
approximately 12 µm thick (Figure 10), where fission fragments formed within the fuel particle have
traveled into the matrix. When fuel loading increases, the recoil zones around individual particles can
become interconnected, forming a network that can degrade fuel performance during irradiation.

Figure 10. Schematic illustrating recoil zones in a dispersion fuel.

In dispersion fuels, the majority of fission heat is removed through the matrix, which has a much higher
thermal conductivity than the fuel. Aluminum has at least an order of magnitude higher thermal conductivity
than the most frequently used fuel dispersants. Fuel plate structural integrity is provided by the matrix,

Research & Test Reactor Fuels | 26

typically the same (or similar) material as the cladding. The most common matrix material is aluminum,
which is dimensionally stable during irradiation, as it does not swell significantly under irradiation.
The initial dispersion type fuels had a low fuel loading, but as research reactors evolved, a need for higher
U-loading arose. It was desired to lengthen the reactor cycle of the MTR, the first materials focused research
reactor ever built, which was initially designed with monolithic U-Al alloy fuel. In order to lengthen the
reactor cycle, higher uranium density was required, initially attempted by increasing the uranium content
in the alloy. However, fabrication of U-Al alloys with high uranium content posed difficulties during the
rolling process due to the change in hardness of the fuel meat and uranium inhomogeneity was found to
increase proportionally with uranium content, impacting performance of the fuel. The limit for U content
in the U-Al alloy was found to be about 25 wt% in the meat, which corresponds to a U-loading of
approximately 0.89 gU/cm3-meat assuming that the U forms only UAl4 in the alloy. For the MTR, the
typical U-loading was set as 0.57 gU/cm3-meat [3].

Instead of increasing the uranium content in the monolithic fuel, a powder metallurgical method combined
with the dispersion fuel concept was proposed to further increase uranium loading in the fuel and avoid
fabrication challenges. Due to the experience of the stable performance of UO2 in power reactors, UO2-Al
dispersion was developed for research reactor fuels, which provided a substantial increase in U-loading
compared to U-Al monolithic fuel. However, it was soon found that the reaction between UO2 and Al led
to a high volume increase during hot rolling, a step in the plate fabrication process. In order to avoid this
reaction U3O8, which showed better characteristics during fabrication, was used instead of UO2, although
the U-density in the fuel was lower. U3O8-Al dispersion fuel was selected as the fuel form of the High Flux
Isotope Reactor (HFIR) for example [4]. Contrary to US reactors, UO2-Al dispersion fuel was selected as
the fuel for the Russian IRT type reactors, which use a lower temperature during fuel element fabrication,
avoiding significant interaction between the fuel and the matrix.

Some MTR type reactors such as Advanced Test Reactor (ATR) and Belgian Reactor 2 (BR2) adopted a
dispersion fuel form of powder metallurgically fabricated UAlx dispersion in Al, where UAlx stands for a
mixture of UAl2, UAl3 and UAl4, thanks to the excellent performance of these uranium aluminides in these
reactor designs, although the U-density of this fuel is lower than U3O8 [3]. In the US Reduced Enrichment
for Research and Test Reactors (RERTR) program, U3Si2-Al dispersion was developed and qualified,
drastically increasing the U-density compared to oxide and UAlx based dispersion fuels. The chronology of
research reactor dispersion fuel development is shown in Figure 11, including a comparison of the U-
densities of the fuels.

Research & Test Reactor Fuels | 27

 Figure 11. U-density of research reactor fuel versus time of first use.
Except for the monolithic U-Al alloy fuel, all other fuels are Al-based dispersion fuels, although the density reported
here is for the fuel material only (not for the fuel meat).

As can be seen in Figure 11, U3Si2 is currently the highest uranium density dispersion fuel among qualified
fuels. In practice, all the fuels developed and used before U3Si2 were based on HEU. U3Si2 was the first fuel
using LEU and intended to be used for conversion of HEU fuel to LEU. U-7Mo alloy fuel dispersion in Al
is included for comparison, although this fuel is currently in the development stage [3, 4]. High-power
research reactors, for which U3Si2-Al fuel would not maintain the current performance metrics, need a
higher uranium density fuel. In order to convert high-power research reactors from HEU fuel, UMo-Al
dispersion fuel has been proposed and is under development. The UMo-Al dispersion is being deployed to
convert the KUCA critical facility and in the KJRR reactor under construction.

UO2-Al and U3O8-Al Dispersion Fuels

There are several methods of fabricating uranium oxides. One of the methods that is more broadly used in
the nuclear industry is conversion of UF6 gas to UO2. UF6 gas is the form used for U-235 enrichment
currently employed in the world. During conversion of UF6 to UO2, UO2 powder is produced. A moderate
grinding is typically needed to obtain a proper particle size distribution. The production of U3O8 requires a
slight oxidation of UO2. Another method of producing uranium oxide is calcining (burning) of uranium
metal in a furnace, using uranium metal’s pyrophoric nature. This method is utilized to fabricate HFIR
reactor fuel [5].

Irradiation behaviors of UO2-Al and U3O8-Al dispersion fuels are similar to each other. They show stable
and predictable fuel swelling due to fission product accumulation. The major cause of fuel swelling is due
to fission gas bubble growth. In Figure 12, the darkest spots are fission gas bubbles in the uranium oxide
particles. A reaction between the oxide fuel particles and the Al matrix occurs during irradiation at even low
temperatures (~100 °C) at which research reactors are normally operating [4]. The interaction layer that
forms in UO2-Al [6] and U3O8-Al [7] was characterized as a mixture of UAl4 and Al2O3 (Figure 12), both
of which are amorphous during irradiation that degrade the strength of the fuel system. Formation of this

Research & Test Reactor Fuels | 28

interaction layer in and of itself is not an issue for fuel performance, as long as the fission gas bubbles do
not interconnect (which can occur at high burnups) and the degradation of the fuel system strength does not
impact the mechanical behavior of the fuel plate. As the strength of a fuel plate is primarily from the
cladding, fuel meat strength is not typically a factor in mechanical performance of a fuel plate.

Figure 12. Optical micrograph of irradiated U3O8-Al [7] dispersion fuel.

The halo around the fuel particle depicts the interaction layer between uranium oxide fuel and the Al matrix. The darkest spots in
the figure are fission gas bubbles.

UAlx-Al Dispersion
The form of the U-Al alloy with a U-density high enough to satisfy the need for high power rectors is an
Al-matrix dispersion of fuel powder containing a mixture of UAl2, UAl3 and UAl4, conveniently termed
UAlx. This fuel was developed for the ATR when the desired U weight fraction was beyond approximately
62 wt% in the fuel meat, much higher than the limit for monolithic U-Al alloy (25 wt%). The exact fractions
of the compounds included in UAlx depend on the fabrication process set by the fuel fabricator. The typical
powder lots used for the ATR contain phase fractions of 7.6 wt% UAl2, 78.6 wt% UAl3, and 13.8 wt% UAl4
[8].

The first step of the powder fabrication of UAlx compounds with a high U weight fraction is arc melting of
a mixture of U and Al metals. Since uranium aluminides are brittle, the typical method for powder
fabrication is mechanical pulverization (or comminution) by the use of jaw crushers and hammer mills. U-
Al intermetallics are pyrophoric. In particular, UAl2 is highly pyrophoric; hence fabrication of this
compound is more difficult although it is the highest in U-density among the three U-Al intermetallics. The
desired particle size is controlled by the use of metallic sieves. The undersized or oversized particles are
recycled. The comminuted particles are irregular in shape (see Figure 13) and surface roughness, with sharp
corners, cracks, and high surface-to-volume ratio. The fuel particles are also brittle, which causes higher
porosity in the fuel meat after plate fabrication. The porosity in the fabricated fuel meat increases with the
UAlx volume fraction in the fuel meat. The reaction of a particular UAlx with Al results in the formation of
a lower uranium content UAlx phase (see Figure 13(b), where the initial UAl2 particle has reacted with the
surrounding Al matrix to form UAl3 and UAl4)). Since comminution is performed in air, oxygen is
inevitably absorbed into the fuel particles, which forms U-oxide in the fuel particles. Fuel particles with
higher oxygen content exhibited higher fission gas bubble swelling (see Figure 13(b)). In Figure 13(b), the

Research & Test Reactor Fuels | 29

UAlx phases are relatively free of porosity (darker phase within the fuel phases), while the surfaces of the
particles (oxidized) and U-oxide phases contain a high fraction of pores.

(a) Optical micrograph of irradiated UAlx -Al (b) SEM BSE image of irradiated UAlx -Al
dispersion fuel. The darkest phase is UAlx, the dispersion fuel. A: UAl2, B: UAl3, C: UAl4,
gray phase is the reaction between UAlx and Al, D: U-oxide and the darkest phase:
the brightest phase is Al. Al/fission gas bubbles in the fuel particle.
Figure 13. Morphology of irradiated UAlx -Al dispersion fuel [4].

The fuel plate fabrication method for UAlx -Al dispersion fuel relies on the common method, i.e., picture
frame rolling discussed in section 3.1.

U3Si2-Al Dispersion
In the U-Si system, several compounds are thermodynamically possible. Among them, U3Si2 and U3Si are
the most common compounds for use as research reactor fuels, typically in an Al matrix dispersion form.
U3Si2-Al dispersion fuel is used for plate-type fuel elements whereas U3Si is currently used only in rod-
type fuel elements [9]. In practice, however, it is almost impossible to fabricate the exact stoichiometric
form of one of these compounds. This is why fuel manufacturers instead alloy with a slightly more Si
amount than required to make stoichiometric U3Si2. For example, the stoichiometric U3Si2 requires a Si
composition of 7.3 wt%. To suppress the formation of U-solid solution and higher uranium U-Si compounds
(U3Si, USi) which have poor irradiation performance due to the formation of large fission gas bubbles,
typically 7.5 wt% Si is added to make a nominal U3Si2 alloy [2]. The secondary phases included in U3Si2
are U3Si and USi, typically residing inhomogeneously in a fuel particle, which causes inhomogeneous size
distributions of fission gas bubbles inside the fuel particles.

U3Si2 powder is fabricated by a mechanical grinding method. The first step for this method is to make an
alloy ingot by mixing and melting uranium and silicon with the desired Si/U ratio. The ingot is sometimes
annealed in an inert atmosphere to enhance compound formation. The ingot is then broken into a powder
by a mechanical grinding method. Typical particle size range is taken between 40 and 150 µm [2]. U3Si2
fuel powder used for research reactors is currently fabricated entirely by the comminution method.

The application of atomization technology, widely used in powder metallurgy to fabricate spherical
powders, to fabrication of U3Si2 powder has been developed at the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute
(KAERI), South Korea [10]. This method employs a rotating disc in a vacuum chamber. After melting the

Research & Test Reactor Fuels | 30

U and Si in a crucible, the liquid fuel melt is poured on the rotating disc. The centrifugal force of the disc
produces liquid fuel droplets that are cooled in the process of flying away. The size of fuel particles is
determined by controlling the disc rotation speed [10]. The atomized powder has several advantages over
the comminuted powder. First, the surface-to-volume ratio of the atomized particles is smaller, which results
in a lower reaction product volume between the fuel particles and matrix aluminum. Second, atomized
powders have higher homogeneity in silicon content because they are rapidly solidified from the liquid.
Third, some of the impurities are lower because the mechanical pulverization steps, during which most of
the impurities typically found are introduced, can be eliminated in the atomized powder fabrication process.
However, use of graphite crucibles can allow for introduction of carbon impurities. Fourth, atomized
particles have lower residual stresses and defects, an advantage from the view point of fuel swelling.

A side-by-side comparison of U3Si2 powders fabricated by a comminution method and an atomization

method is presented in Figure 14.

Figure 14. SEM images of comminuted powder and atomized powder of U3Si2 [10]

The two major microstructural evolutions in U3Si2-Al dispersion during irradiation are interaction layer
(IL) growth between the fuel particles and the Al matrix and fission gas bubble formation in the fuel
particles (Figure 15). U3Si2-Al fuel has demonstrated excellent performance at power levels and
temperatures typical for research and test reactors. The extent of IL growth is small, resulting in negligible
volume increase. Fission gas bubble sizes are small and stable, and contained within the fuel particles,
limiting interconnection. The overall fuel swelling is characteristically low because at low burnup, fuel
swelling is mostly accommodated in the as-fabricated porosity.

Research & Test Reactor Fuels | 31

 Figure 15. Microstructural evolution of U3Si2-Al fuel by irradiation [4].

UMo-Al Dispersion
The powder fabrication methods for UMo alloys currently widely adopted are the comminution method
and atomization method. The comminution method uses a mechanical grinding and/or chemical process of
the alloy ingot, and the atomization method typically includes pouring the UMo alloy melt onto a rotating
disk in an inert atmosphere or using a rotating consumable electrode. Unlike U3Si2, which is primarily
fabricated by a comminution method, the atomization method is more common for UMo alloy powder
fabrication.

UMo showed predictable and stable swelling by fission products at typical operation temperatures of the
research and test reactors. Fission gas bubble swelling was comparable with that of U3Si2, as shown in
Figure 16(a). However, qualification of UMo-Al has been delayed due to the complication of formation of
pores in the fuel meat when irradiated under a high fission rate and a high fission density, not observed in
U3Si2 fuel. The pores form in the thick interaction layers created by the interaction between the fuel particles
and Al matrix, as shown in Figure 17. Fuel meat integrity appeared to be degraded due to these irradiation
phenomena, resulting in fuel plate warping and pillowing in plate type fuels.

Figure 16. Post-irradiation examination of plate-type UMo-Al dispersion irradiated to 78% LEU burnup (or 5.7×1021 f/cm3) [4].

The presence of large pores in the interaction layers indicated that IL growth was the root cause for pore
buildup. Therefore, suppression of IL growth was believed to be a key to preventing pore growth and the
resulting unacceptable plate dimensional instability. The initial attempt to resolve the pore-induced

Research & Test Reactor Fuels | 32

unacceptable fuel performance was to modify the Al matrix with the addition of silicon. Numerous tests
have shown that this method has, to some extent, beneficial effects [11]. However, under the high heat flux
conditions bounding European high flux reactors, this method showed limitations, yielding fuel failures
earlier than the desired burnup.

In order to overcome the limitations of the Si-modification method, direct application of a diffusion barrier
on the UMo kernels was investigated in Russia and Belgium. Physical vapor deposition (PVD) of ZrN
coating was investigated in both countries. The Belgian coated particles were tested in the BR2 reactor,
with a maximum local heat flux of 470 W/cm2 up to a local maximum LEU burnup of 69% [12]. A different
coating method, atomic layer deposition (ALD) of ZrN, was also investigated and produced at Argonne
[13]. An irradiation campaign comparing of the performance of several fabrication parameters, including
coating method, was conducted in the ATR at the INL. Examination of these plates to determine the effect
of the fabrication variants is ongoing, although none of the plates tested exhibited deformation or pillowing
that was observed in some of the earlier high-powered tests.

4.1.2 Plate-Type Monolithic Fuels

The initial choice of fuel for the first research and test reactor, the MTR (Materials Testing Reactor), was
UAl alloy. It was natural that the selection was based on the structural similarity of the alloy to the cladding
material, aluminum. The composition range of interest was 14 – 25 wt% U, for which the structure consists
of scarcely dispersed UAl4 surrounded by a matrix of aluminum. In this case, thermo- physical-mechanical
behavior of the fuel meat is consistent with cladding. UAl alloy has a well-established performance history
from operation in the MTR and ETR (Engineering Test Reactor) before replacement was made with U3O8-
Al and UAlx -Al dispersion fuels. Reactors using UAl alloy fuel containing HEU were mostly
decommissioned or converted to LEU fuels such as UO2-Al, U3O8-Al or U3Si2-Al dispersion fuel. However,
some research reactors, chiefly critical assemblies, are still operational on the HEU UAl alloy fuel.

Several monolithic fuels for plate geometry have been considered for research reactors. This includes UZr
alloy, specialized for naval propulsion reactors because of its advantage of high density, favorable for
compact reactors. UMo monolithic fuel is a recent addition to this group, and is currently under
development. The plate fabrication method for monolithic fuel plates is the same picture frame method as
dispersion fuels, as discussed in section 3.1.

UAl Alloy Monolithic Fuel

UAl alloy is made by vacuum melting uranium and aluminum metal in a graphite crucible. The melt size is
determined by critical mass limitations [14]. Because of the higher melting point of U compared to Al, the
alloy will be in liquid state when uranium completes melting, for which degassing is performed. The next
steps are casting of the solution into graphite molds to produce alloy slabs, which are subsequently hot
rolled to thin foils, from which the fuel meat is punched. The pouring temperature is defined as a function
of the uranium concentration between 700 – 1000 °C to avoid excessive segregation (or second phase
precipitation) and inhomogeneity of the uranium distribution. In the typical concentration range of interest,
i.e., 14 – 25 wt% U, the alloy structure is composed of primarily UAl4 and small fractions of meta-stable
UAl3, depending on the uranium concentration, surrounded by a matrix of eutectic between UAl4+Al
(Figure 17). For the typical uranium loading, the volume fraction of UAl4 corresponds to 13 – 23%.

Research & Test Reactor Fuels | 33

The plate fabrication method discussed in section 3.1 was first developed for making UAl alloy fuel for use
in the MTR reactor [14]. In this method, a UAl alloy flat block is placed in an aluminum picture frame and
covered with aluminum cover plates. The whole assembly is then hot rolled to the desired thickness.

The upper limit of U concentration, i.e., 25 wt% U, corresponding to 0.89 gU/cm3-meat, is due to an alloy
segregation issue during hot rolling alloys of higher than 25 wt% U. Therefore, the U-loading is relatively
low compared to other higher density fuels, as was shown in Figure 11. For example, U3Si2-Al dispersion
fuel currently in use is qualified up to 4.8 gU/cm3-meat (11.3 gU/cm3-fuel with ~43% fuel phase loading).
For this reason, the use of UAl alloy fuel was short-lived for early reactors such as the MTR and MTR type
reactors, but it is still in use in a limited number of reactors operating with HEU fuel.

The irradiation performance of UAl fuel was excellent [14], and similar to that of UAlx-Al [15]. Fuel
dimensional changes due to fuel swelling during irradiation was small. The yield strength and hardness
increased while ductility decreased, and the thermal conductivity decreased by up to 30%. However, none
of these property changes were significant enough to lead to fuel failures or loss of operational efficiency
[16].

Figure 17. Characterization of irradiated [15] UAl alloy fuel.

UZr Monolithic Fuel

UZr alloy fuel in a MTR-type plate form was tried first as a fuel for a submarine reactor. The first core of
the first nuclear powered propulsion submarine, Nautilus, adopted S1W (Submarine-1st generation-
Westinghouse) design that used UZr monolithic fuel in Zr cladding, as shown in Figure 18. However, not
much information has been available in the open literature regarding fabrication and performance behavior
of the fuel in the specific reactor conditions. It is reasonable, however, to deduce that the fuel performance
of S1W is similar to UZr alloy fuel in pin type such as those of the Experimental Breeder Reactor (EBR)-
II.

Research & Test Reactor Fuels | 34

 Figure 18: Core configuration of Westinghouse designed S1W reactor adopting UZr monolithic fuel [17].

Although the UZr alloy fuel for the EBR-II was pin-type, the examinations on the microstructural evolution
of the fuel under irradiation are informative for plate-type fuel behavior. The EBR-II fuel was fabricated
using an injection casting method. The as-cast metal fuel slug shows macroscopically uniform distribution
of the fuel constituents. Its initial microstructure consists essentially of the metastable low-temperature α-
phase supersaturated with Zr. Over the course of irradiation, this phase will transform to the phases stable
at the local temperatures of the fuel. A U-10wt%Zr alloy experiences the following phase transition
temperatures: α+δ to α+γ (617 °C), α+γ to β+γ (662 °C) and β+γ to γ (692 °C) phases. Therefore,
depending on the operating temperature, the fuel comprises uniquely different phases that have different
fuel performance. The significance of the possible phases of UZr is that each phase has characteristic fission
gas bubble swelling behavior, as shown in Figure 19. The low temperature phase (α+δ phase), relevant to
typical research reactor operating temperatures, exhibits tearing cavities due to anisotropic swelling of
grains containing α phase (orthorhombic) while the high temperature phase, γ phase (bcc), forms relatively
round fission gas bubbles because the phase has an isotropic structure [18].

Research & Test Reactor Fuels | 35

 Figure 19. Post-irradiation metallographs of UZr fuel showing phase-dependent fission gas bubble morphologies [18].

The irradiation behavior of UZr alloy fuel in the EBR-II discussed here is for temperatures much higher
than the typical operating regimes for research reactors. However, the low temperature behavior shown in
Figure 19 (a) may be a good indicator for the behavior of the fuel in the temperature regime applicable to
research reactors.

UMo Alloy Monolithic Fuel

Recently, interest in UMo alloy was rekindled for use in monolithic form due to its high density which is
needed for conversion of research and test reactors from HEU to LEU fuel [19]. In addition to further
increasing the peak achievable uranium density, it was anticipated that the monolithic UMo fuel form would
mitigate irradiation performance issues by substantially reducing the amount of fuel particle-to-aluminum
matrix interface and, thus, the formation of undesirable interaction products observed in the dispersion fuel
tests (refer to the UMo-Al dispersion fuel section and see Figure 3 (a) and (c)). Similar to UMo-Al
dispersion fuel, this fuel type is still in the pre-qualified stage, so an introduction here is for future reference.

Since the first irradiation of a small coupon of monolithic UMo fuel in the RERTR-4 test in 2001, the
monolithic UMo fuel saw significant technological improvements for fabrication from test campaigns using
reduced size plates (INL fabrication) and full size plates (BWXT fabrication). The UMo monolithic fuel
development has been undertaken primarily at the Idaho National Laboratory (INL). Instead of using the
picture frame method to bond the UMo foil to the aluminum alloy cladding, three different bonding methods
were tested: friction bonding, transient liquid phase bonding and hot isostatic pressing (HIP) diffusion
bonding. Since the most frequent failure mode of this fuel was found to be delamination (debonding) of the
fuel foil from the cladding, considerable effort was devoted to improving the bonding technology. In
addition to selecting the best bonding technology, it was proposed that installing a Zr-diffusion barrier
between the fuel and cladding could improve the quality of the bonding between UMo and cladding. The
current standard fabrication method comprises co-rolling of UMo (uranium alloy with 10 wt% Mo) fuel
foil with a pure Zr layer (with thickness of 25 µm) and HIP bonding of the fuel foil with aluminum alloy
(AA) 6061 cladding. The overall thickness of UMo foil including the Zr-liner is ~0.25 mm [20].

Before co-rolling, the thicknesses of the UMo coupon and the Zr foil thickness are determined by the
fabricator’s empirical data, characteristic of the applied UMo foil reduction schedule. From the image
shown in Figure 20, it is remarkable that the Zr interlayer on both sides of the UMo foil are bonded well to

Research & Test Reactor Fuels | 36

the fuel and cladding, even after substantial irradiation. The only limit to this fuel usage occurs in HEU
fuels, capable of well beyond 100% LEU-equivalent burnup, where fission gas bubbles accumulate along
the fuel-Zr interlayer interface [20].

Figure 20. Post-irradiation metallographs of a UMo monolithic fuel plate after irradiation to 59% LEU burnup [20].

It is accepted that fuel swelling of UMo monolithic fuel is similar to the UMo fuel particles of UMo-Al
dispersion fuel [21]. The strength of the UMo monolithic fuel design compared to dispersion fuel is in the
increased uranium density and the absence of a matrix. Interaction layer formation between the fuel and the
matrix has been shown to be problematic in plate-type UMo dispersion fuels, and is absent in monolithic
fuels.

4.2 Rod-Type Fuels

Rod-type fuels can be either dispersion fuel (typically co-extruded with the cladding) or monolithic fuels
(typically slugs or pellets stacked inside a cladding tube). Due to the symmetrical shape of the fuel, co-
extruded rod fuels are able to suppress the growth of fission gas bubbles and fuel swelling, enabling the use
of fuels that would not be usable in plate geometry.

4.2.1 Rod-Type Dispersion Fuels

The primary dispersion fuel type used in co-extruded rod-type fuels is uranium silicide fuel, either U3Si2-
Al or U3Si-Al. The development of this fuel system is discussed in the following section.

Silicide (U3Si2, U3Si) -Al Dispersion

In the RERTR program, fuel developers were interested in U3Si, U3SiAl, and U3Si2 as fuel for conversion
to LEU fuel because of their higher U-densities among U-compounds, as was illustrated in Figure 11. U3Si
was the most favorable choice in terms of its high U-density, but fabrication of the powder form by a
mechanical grinding method was an obstacle due to its high toughness. A slightly less dense, but more
brittle, U3Si2 that was easier to fabricate was thus considered. This decision turned out to be fortunate due
to the superior irradiation-induced swelling behavior of U3Si2 compared to U3Si. Fission gas bubble
swelling of U3Si was judged to be a potential for pillowing in plate geometry; hence it was not pursued for
the MTR type fuel applications (see Figure 22). In 1988, the safety evaluation report issued by the US
Nuclear Regulatory Commission licensed U3Si2-Al dispersion fuel in a plate form for use with densities up
to 4.8 gU/cm3-meat at the power level investigated in the demonstration test [9]. However, U3Si-Al
dispersion fuel was still attractive for use in rod geometry fuel systems, such as in the recently shut down

Research & Test Reactor Fuels | 37

National Research Universal (NRU) reactor in Canada and currently operating High-flux Advanced
Neutron Application Reactor (HANARO) in South Korea. It was shown that the high fission gas bubble
swelling in U3Si is suppressed to an acceptable level thanks to the high geometrical constraint due to the
cylindrical geometry, so a fuel license was acquired for those reactors [22].

Figure 21. SEM images of the fractured surfaces of U-silicide fuels irradiated in the ORR at temperature ~100 °C [4].
Note the difference in magnification.

The NRU reactor used fuel powder made by using a grinding method that is similar to the typical
comminution method, for which uranium and silicon are melted in a vacuum induction furnace, cast into
billets, heat treated, then milled into powders in an inert-atmosphere glove box. For the HANARO reactor,
KAERI produces U3Si spherical-particle powder by an atomization method. In the atomization process
developed at KAERI, a mixture of uranium and silicon is induction-melted in graphite crucibles. The melt
is fed through a small nozzle onto a graphite disk rotating at high speed. The melted uranium silicide spreads
out and flies off the disk due to the centrifugal force, solidifying in an argon atmosphere.

One of the main advantages of the atomization method compared to the comminution method is the reduced
number of fabrication steps, reducing the labor required to produce the powder. Additionally, smaller
amounts of impurities are introduced during the atomization process. For example, iron impurities
introduced from machining tools during comminution can be largely avoided. Due to the rapid cooling of
the material during atomization, the local variation in the Si/U ratio of fuel particles that is typically found
in comminuted powder is not a concern in atomized powder. Unlike comminution, which produces
irregularly-shaped particles, atomized U3Si powder particles are nominally spherical, as was shown in
Figure 15. The volume of U3Si-Al interaction in fuel meat using atomized U3Si powder is smaller than that
in the fuel plates using comminuted powder, due to the reduced surface area-to-volume ratio of atomized
powder.

The method of fabricating a rod-type fuel element at KAERI is typically as follows: The uranium silicide
powder is sieved into discrete size fractions, mixed with high-purity aluminum powder, blended and
processed to homogenize the fuel particle distribution. The fuel green meat is hot-extruded into cores. End
plugs are attached to the cores, and finned aluminum cladding is extruded over the cores. Excess material
is machined away, and the cladding is welded to the end plugs to hermetically seal the elements. Figure

Research & Test Reactor Fuels | 38

23(a) shows as-fabricated rod-type U3Si-Al dispersion fuel used for the HANARO reactor. As can be seen
in Figure 23(b), large fission gas bubbles are formed, but are stable in the rod geometry.

Figure 22. Rod-type U3Si-Al dispersion fuel used for HANARO [22].

4.2.2 Rod-Type Monolithic Fuels

The two most common rod-type monolithic fuels are U-ZrHx and UO2 fuels, which will be discussed in the
following sections.

U-ZrHx
Uranium-zirconium hydride fuel has been used for TRIGA® reactors since 1957 and Systems for Nuclear
Auxiliary Power tests. To fabricate the fuel, U metal is obtained from UF6 by one of the following reactions:

𝑈𝑈𝐹𝐹6 + 3𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀 = 𝑈𝑈 + 3𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝐹𝐹2

𝑈𝑈𝐹𝐹6 + 3𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶 = 𝑈𝑈 + 3𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐹𝐹2

A UZr ingot is made by alloying the desired U and Zr amounts and casting the melt into an ingot. The next
step is to machine the ingot into a cylindrical slug. The slug is then annealed in a hydrogen atmosphere,
during which the Zr preferentially reacts with hydrogen to form a hydride while the uranium is segregated.
As a result, the U turns into a dispersant (the brighter phase in Figure 23(a)) in a ZrHx matrix (the darker
phase in Figure 23(a)). The hydride is most frequently delta phase with x ~1.6. Figure 23 shows U-ZrHx
characterized before and after irradiation in the Oak Ridge National Laboratory Research Reactor (ORR)
to examine the feasibility of a high U loading of up to 45 wt% in the fuel meat.

Research & Test Reactor Fuels | 39

 Figure 23: Characterization of pre-irradiated and post-irradiated U-ZrHx fuel [23].

The interface between the fuel and cladding shown in Figure 23(b) has the appearance of a metallurgical
bond after the fuel-cladding gap closed due to high fuel swelling that occurs at high burnup. However, this
behavior is not typical in a TRIGA® – a pulsed type reactor in which only a moderate burnup is achievable
and U-loading is lower than 30 wt%.

The size of the segregated U particles increases with the U-loading: 1 µm for 8.5 wt% U and 5 µm for 45
wt% U [24]. U-ZrHx fuel behaves similarly to a dispersion fuel in that most of fission occurs in the U phase,
while the ZrHx behaves like a matrix. The recoil damage zones around the U-phase are primarily isolated
in low U-loading fuels. The overall fuel swelling is small, occurring only in the U-phase in low U-loading
fuels.

Hydrogen dissociation from ZrHx and migration is the characteristic phenomenon in this fuel. Hydrogen
dissociation increases with temperature and migrates down the temperature gradient. Hence, the fuel center
region loses hydrogen (hydrogen dissociation, or dehydriding) and the fuel periphery region accumulates
additional hydrogen. As ZrHx dehydrides, pores form around the ZrHx, which facilitates fission gas release.

Standard TRIGA® fuel contains 8.5 wt% U in U-ZrHx pellets, with U-235 enrichment slightly lower than
20%, encased in an aluminum or stainless steel cladding depending on the desired operating conditions. In
the 1970s, the enrichment was increased to 70% or 90% to extend the fuel life in the Fuel Life Improvement
Program (FLIP). This trend was reversed in the US RERTR program by converting the HEU fuel to LEU
by developing and qualifying higher U-loading U-ZrHx, such as 20-20 (20 wt% U-loading with enrichment
of slightly lower than 20%) and 30-20 (30 wt% U-loading with enrichment of slightly lower than 20%) in
1987 [25].

Research & Test Reactor Fuels | 40

UO2 Pellet

UO2 powder is made from UF6 gas using a conversion process discussed in the U-ZrHx section. There are
many conversion processes, but only three are used at industrial scales: two wet processes including
ammonium di-uranate, ammonium uranyl carbonate, and a dry process [26].

In order to make UO2 pellets, a sintering method of UO2 powder is used that is similar to the method
generally used for power reactor fuel fabrication (Figure 24). The sintering process includes heating of UO2
powder compact (green pellets) in a hydrogen atmosphere (typically Ar - H2 mixture) at 1400 – 1700 °C.
The sintering parameters of temperature and time are controlled to obtain the desired UO2 stoichiometry,
UO2 grain size and porosity. For light water reactor (LWR) fuels, the current trend of UO2 pellet fabrication
is to produce a larger grain size and ~4% porosity (or 96% theoretical density) to improve fuel performance.

Figure 24. Flow diagram of UF6 to UO2 conversion process.

The advantages of UO2 in pellet form include:

- excellent irradiation stability owing to the cubic structure, hence isotropic swelling during
irradiation
- low fission product swelling due to the empty space at the center of the simple cubic structure and
as-fabricated porosity
- relatively low thermal neutron absorption cross section (~20 barns) of the second element (oxygen)
- good corrosion resistance against water because the fuel is already an oxide
- high fuel melting point (2865 °C)
- ease of manufacturing
- established reprocessing pathways

Research & Test Reactor Fuels | 41

The disadvantages of UO2 in pellet form include:
- low thermal conductivity. Hence, a large thermal gradient over the heat transport path occurs, which
results in a high fuel temperature at the fuel center.
- poor fracture toughness against thermal shock (stress), so fuel cracking is not rare.
- no method available for direct bonding with metal cladding. UO2 pellet fuel is usually used in a
cladding tube with a gas gap between the fuel and the cladding.
- low U-density

The two dominant performance phenomena of UO2 during irradiation are fuel swelling and fission gas
release. The former is manifested by fission gas bubble formation and growth. Fission gas bubbles are
preferentially formed on grain boundaries (see [27]). When fission gas bubbles are interconnected, tunnels
are formed, facilitating fission gas release. Typically a gas plenum is provided at the top of the fuel rod to
accommodate the release of fission gas to the gap.

At high burnup, agglomeration of fission gas bubbles and irradiation damage cause grain refinement that
divides as-fabricated grains into much smaller grains. In some high burnup cases, grain refinement results
in the so-called high-burnup structure (HBS) that exhibits much smaller grains than the as-fabricated grains
alongside populated fission gas bubbles (see [28]). HBS is also called the rim structure because it occurs
more frequently in the outer rim region where a higher burnup is achieved due to the self-shielding effect,
and where temperature is lower. The grain refinement phenomenon adversely affects the fuel performance
because it increases both fuel swelling and fission product release.

Research & Test Reactor Fuels | 42

5. Research Reactor Cladding Types

5.1 Aluminum Alloy

Aluminum is generally low in strength, has a low elastic modulus, and melting point of ~650 °C, which is
disadvantageous as a structural material in electricity producing reactors that adopt high operating
temperatures. However, for most research reactors (RRs) with low coolant temperatures ~100 °C, aluminum
alloys (total alloying composition less than 6%) are applicable and are the most popular choice. The
advantages of Al alloys include: high heat capacity, high thermal conductivity, and low thermal neutron
absorption cross section (see Table 7). In addition, Al is ductile, so it is highly workable, which is one of
the deciding merits for plate fuels that are fabricated by a rolling method. Aluminum also has excellent
corrosion resistance in a slightly acidic coolant, typical for RR, showing retrograde behavior (corrosion
products exhibit a solubility decrease with increasing acidity to a pH of 5.0). Al was used for the fuel
cladding of the MTR reactor and numerous MTR-type reactors thereafter.

Table 7. Properties of structural materials at room temperature

Cladding Density Heat Thermal Melting point Elastic CTE Neutron

Material (g cm-3) capacity conductivity (°C) modulus (10-6 K-1) cross section
(J g-1 K-1) (W m-1 K-1) (GPa) (barns)
Aluminum 2.7 0.89 230 650 70 23 0.23
Stainless 8.0 0.5 14 1425 200 16 3
Steel 304
Zirconium 6.5 0.28 22 1852 90 5.7 0.19
Graphite 2.3 0.72 25 (ab-dir.)* 3600 4.1 7.9 0.0035
470 (c-dir.)*
*Graphite has asymmetric thermal conductivity, dependent upon the crystallographic orientation along the thermal gradient (a and
b crystallographic directions have a lower thermal conductivity than the c-direction). The use of graphite cladding is found in solid
homogeneous reactors in which the fuel meat is composed of fine oxide fuel (UO2 or U3O8) powder dispersion in a polyethylene
matrix.

5.2 Stainless Steel

Stainless steel (SS) is a common choice for the structural materials of fast neutron spectrum reactors such
as fast breeder reactors where the relatively higher thermal neutron absorption cross section compared to
other candidates is of no concern (see Table 7) due to its strength, creep resistance, and high corrosion
resistance. Cladding growth due to void swelling by fast neutrons was found to be an issue for fast reactors.
To deal with the high fluence conditions in fast reactors, improved Fe-base cladding materials such as D9
and HT9 replaced SS. However, for the relatively benign conditions in research reactors operating with a
fast spectrum, SS is still used for structural material thanks to its high strength and good corrosion
resistance. TRIGA® reactors, which operate with a thermal spectrum, use SS as cladding. The original
TRIGA® reactor design adopted aluminum cladding. However, the second generation TRIGA® design in
the 1960s replaced the aluminum cladding with stainless steel cladding due to its higher strength and
corrosion resistance, enabling TRIGA® fuel to operate at higher temperatures and higher burnup.

Research & Test Reactor Fuels | 43

5.3 Zirconium Alloy
Development of zirconium and its alloys for use in nuclear reactors began in the US in 1948 when it was
found that hafnium-free Zr had a much lower neutron absorption cross section than had previously been
suspected. Naturally found Zr contains 1 - 4% Hf. In thermal neutron spectrum reactors such as LWRs, a
structural material must have a low thermal neutron absorption cross section (see Table 7). In this regard,
Zr possesses superiority over other metals. However, it was found that pure Zr, normally sponge Zr
commercially produced by the Kroll process, was inadequate for use as a cladding material due to its poor
corrosion resistance and low strength.

Alloying of pure Zr was used to attempt to increase corrosion resistance and strength of Zr. Zircaloy-1, an
alloy of 2.5 wt% Sn sponge Zr, improved corrosion resistance in air, but corrosion resistance in water was
still poor. Zircaloy-1 was never used in a nuclear reactor. Zircaloy-2, alloying of 1.5 wt% Sn + 0.15 wt% Fe
+ 0.1 wt% Cr + 0.05 wt% Ni, showed improvement in overall corrosion resistance. In particular, it showed
excellent corrosion resistance in steam. Hence, Zircaloy-2 was selected as the cladding material for boiling
water reactors. Zircaloy-3 was a slight variance from Zircaloy-2 that changed the Sn and Fe compositions
from Zircaloy-2, hoping to improve corrosion resistance, but its corrosion characteristics were not
considerably improved. Zircaloy-3 never saw extensive applications. Zircaloy-4 was designed to improve
a weak point of Zircaloy-2, which has high hydrogen absorption produced as a by-product of cladding water
oxidation. The Ni addition was found to be the reason for high hydrogen absorption in Zircaloy-2. Hence,
Ni was removed from the Zr alloy to make Zircaloy-4 and the Fe content was increased to 0.24 wt% to
compensate for the absence of Ni in corrosion resistance to steam. Hydrogen uptake characteristics of
Zircaloy-4 was remarkably superior to Zircaloy-2. Zirconium alloys used as fuel element cladding
commonly have two performance topics: oxidation and hydriding. Zircaloy in coolant water undergoes an
oxidation reaction by:
𝑍𝑍𝑍𝑍 + 2𝐻𝐻2 𝑂𝑂 = 𝑍𝑍𝑍𝑍𝑂𝑂2 + 2𝐻𝐻2
Zircaloy-2 exhibits a nodular type oxidation, whereas a relatively uniform oxidation film is found on
Zircaloy-4 [29]. A uniform oxidation film poses a less harmful effect than nodular corrosion.

Another oxidation related phenomenon in Zr alloys is related to the fact that a part (~10%) of hydrogen
liberated during corrosion under standard operating conditions is absorbed into the cladding, causing
hydride formation (i.e., hydriding) of the cladding [29] . The solubility of hydrogen in Zircaloy is very low:
the peak hydrogen concentration in α-Zr is only 800 ppm at 550 °C. Therefore, the fate of the absorbed
hydrogen in Zircaloy beyond the solubility limit is to precipitate into hydrides (δ-hydride, ZrHx where x is
~1.6). The δ-hydride is very brittle. Therefore, once formed, the hydride degrades the strength of the
cladding, which increases the potential for cladding failure by formation and growth of cracks under high
stresses. For LWRs, one of the major causes of fuel failure is cladding hydriding [30].

Research & Test Reactor Fuels | 44

6. Research and Test Reactor Fuel Fabricators
In the early days of RR fuel development, fuel fabricators were the reactor developers. In general, this is
the main reason that fuel fabricator information for many early research reactors, even for the landmark
reactors such as MTR and ETR, has not been explicitly reported. Another aspect is that in those days, fuel
fabrication technologies were shared and collaborated between research institutes, so it is frequently hard
to specify who the fuel developer actually was for a specific reactor. In addition, most of the early reactors
were fueled with HEU, 93% in the U.S. and 90% in Russia, so refueling was not so frequent and in some
reactors the initial core is even still in use. Therefore, fuel information is scarce and fragmentary on many
occasions.

In this section, a historical overview is given for the major fabricators such as Babcock & Wilcox (B&W,
currently BWXT) for UAlx -Al, U3Si2-Al, U3O8-Al; CERCA for UAlx -Al and U3Si2-Al; NUKEM for U3O8-
Al; TVEL for Russian-designed RR fuels and GA (currently TRIGA® International including CERCA as
a partner) for TRIGA® fuel. Also introduced are some minor fabricators such as CNNC China for MNSR
fuel; AECL Canada (currently CNL) for slowpoke reactor fuel; KAERI South Korea for HANARO fuel
(U3Si-Al); CNEA Argentina for reactors in Argentina and some foreign countries including Algeria, Egypt,
Iran and Peru; and Brazil’s IPEN/CNEN for IEA-R1 and Argonauta fuels and CDTN/CNEN for IPR-R1
fuel.

6.1 MTR Fuel Fabricators

The MTR fuel element, a plate type, was developed at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) in the late
1940s and the early 1950s [31]. The MTR started operation in March 1952. The initial core was fueled with
UAl alloy, fabricated by ORNL. The fuel assembly was composed of curved fuel plates made by a rolling
method. The fuel was a UAl alloy containing HEU (93% U-235) clad with aluminum alloy. Later various
powder metallurgical fuels such as UO2, U3O8, and UAlx in Al matrix dispersions were developed for use
in the MTR at Philips Petroleum Company under contract with the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission [32].
These higher U-density fuels became popular for later MTR-type reactors. In 1957, SYLCOR (Sylvania-
Corning Nuclear Technology Co.) supplied fuel for the MTR. SYLCOR also made fuel for the
Massachusetts Institute of Technology Research Reactor (MITR).

6.2 BWXT
Since the 1950s, BWXT (BWX Technologies, Inc., formerly Babcock & Wilcox Co. (B&W)) has been
supplying research and test reactor fuels for universities and national laboratories. BWXT also engaged in
fabricating RR fuels as a major fuel supplier for nuclear propulsion reactor fuel in the U.S. Since 1981,
BWXT has supplied a wide variety of fuels for research and test reactors in the US including HFIR (High
Flux Isotope Reactor, ORNL), ATR (Advanced Test Reactor), MITR, ORR (Oak Ridge Reactor, currently
undergoing decommissioning), NBSR (National Institute of Standards and Technology Research Reactor),
and MURR® (University of Missouri-Columbia Research Reactor). The only exception was fuel for
TRIGA® reactors. BWXT also contracted with BR2 (Belgian Reactor 2) as a fuel supplier in 2016.

Research & Test Reactor Fuels | 45

6.3 CERCA
In early nuclear technology development in France, the French national laboratory CEA (Commissariat à
l'énergie atomique) fabricated nuclear fuels for civil and military facilities in France. Later, an industrial
group COGEMA (Compagnie générale des matières nucléaires) was established to take over the fuel
fabrication capability. In 2001, AREVA was created by the merger of Framatome (later: Areva NP, now:
Framatome), COGEMA (later: Areva NC, now: Orano Cycle) and Technicatome (later: Areva TA, now:
Technicatome). CERCA was an integral part of AREVA in fuel production. In 2018, ORANO was separated
from AREVA and focuses on the fuel cycle, including spent fuel reprocessing.

CERCA is the fuel supplier of HEU UAlx -Al MTR type plate fuel for RHF (at ILL, France) and BR2
(Belgium, until 2016). They are also the supplier of U3Si2-Al dispersion plate fuel for many research
reactors worldwide including OPAL (Australia), KUR (Japan), JRTR (Jordan), HOR (Netherlands), HFR
(Netherlands), RP-10 (Peru) and MARIA (Poland). CERCA joined as a partner to GA (General Atomics)
International in 1996 to form TRIGA® International, supplying TRIGA® U- ZrHx fuel for TRIGA®
reactors worldwide since then.

6.4 NUKEM
NUKEM (Germany) used to be one of the major fuel fabricators for MTR type reactors in Europe until its
business license was terminated in 1989. NUKEM produced UAl alloy, UAlx -Al, U3O8-Al and U3Si2-Al
fuels. NUKEM’s technologies were mostly transferred to CERCA at the time of its fuel business
termination. NUKEM was later sold to Canadian nuclear fuel company Cameco in 2012.

BWXT, CERCA and NUKEM were the fuel fabricators that participated in the ORR demonstration test of
U3Si2-Al dispersion fuel by providing test fuel assemblies that led to the qualification of this fuel in 1988
(NUREG-1313) [9]. Therefore, NUKEM was one of three qualifiers for plate-type U3Si2-Al fuel. NUKEM
also specialized in fabrication of fine (~20 µm) U3O8 fuel particle dispersion in a polyethylene matrix
known as solid homogeneous fuel because of the fine fuel kernel dispersion.

6.5 TVEL
TVEL is a company of Rosatom (a state-run nuclear corporation in Russia) that has an enterprise
Novosibirsk Chemical Concentrates Plant (NCCP) where almost all fuel related work is performed
including the fabrication of nuclear fuel, conversion and enrichment of uranium, production of gas
centrifuges, as well as research and development of new nuclear fuels. TVEL is the sole supplier of nuclear
fuel for all nuclear power reactors, including ship propulsion reactors, in Russia. TVEL supplies nuclear
fuel for 73 power reactors in 13 countries worldwide and various types of fuel for Russian-designed research
reactors in Russia and outside of Russia in countries including Belarus (critical assemblies), China (CEFR),
Czech Republic (LVR-15), North Korea (IRT-DPRK), Egypt (ETRR), Hungary (BRR), Kazakhstan
(WWR-K), Libya (IRT-1), Ukraine (WWR-M). The major types of fuel adopted in Russian-designed RR
are concentric tubular fuels of HEU UAl alloy and UO2-Al dispersion extruded with Al alloy cladding.

Research & Test Reactor Fuels | 46

6.6 GA (General Atomics)
GA (General Atomics) is the developer and vendor of the TRIGA® reactors in the US and abroad and is
the fuel supplier for the TRIGA® reactors. In 1996 TRIGA® International was established as a joint venture
between GA and CERCA to and became the sole supplier of TRIGA® fuel. TRIGA® fuel is a U- ZrHx
alloy (x here is about 1.6) in disc or pellet form clad with Al alloy in the original design, but later changed
to stainless steel.

6.7 Other Fuel Fabricators

AECL (Atomic Energy of Canada Limited, currently CNL- Canadian Nuclear Laboratories), Canada, was
the fuel supplier for the NRU reactor, which was permanently shut down in 2018, and the Slowpoke reactors
that use UO2 pellets in Zircaloy tube cladding, similar to LWR reactor fuels. The fuel-cladding gap thickness
is 0.6 mm.

CNNC (China National Nuclear Corporation) is a Chinese fuel manufacturer and the sole nuclear fuel
supplier in China including Chinese-built MNSRs (Miniature Neutron Source Reactor) in China, Ghana,
Nigeria, Pakistan, Syria, and Iran. Three MNSR reactors in China, Ghana and Nigeria were converted to
LEU fuel, while the others are still using HEU fuel. The original MNSR fuel was HEU UAl alloy slug
packed in Al-alloy cladding with 0.6 mm fuel-to-cladding gap, similar to a power reactor fuel rod. CNNC
also produces the LEU fuel for converted MNSRs that comprises UO2 pellets in a Zircaloy-4 cladding tube.
In this context, the fuel design of converted MNSRs is very similar to the Canadian-designed Slowpoke
reactor fuel that uses UO2 pellets in Zircaloy tube cladding.

KAERI (Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute) makes fuel for the HANARO reactor in South Korea
that uses U3Si-Al dispersion fuel extruded with finned tubular Al-alloy cladding. Note the fuel is U3Si, not
the much more popular U3Si2, because of the rod geometry. It is also remarkable that KAERI is the only
fuel manufacturer that uses atomized U3Si fuel produced in KAERI.

CNEA (Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica) is an Argentinean state-run institute that supplies fuels for
NUR reactor in Algeria, RA-3 and RA-6 in Argentina and TRR in Iran. CNEA’s fuel type is MTR-type
U3O8-Al dispersion fuel in Al-alloy cladding.

IPEN (Nuclear and Energy Research Institute) is an institute in Sao Paolo administered by state-run institute
CNEN (Comissão Nacional de Energia Nuclear) of Brazil, which supplies U3Si2-Al fuel for IEA-R1 reactor
and U3O8-Al fuel for the Argonauta reactor, an Argonaut reactor, in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil.

CDTN (Centro de Desenvolvimento da Tecnologia Nuclear), a fuel fabrication facility operated by CNEN,
supplies fuel for IPR-R1, a TRIGA® reactor, in Brazil.

Research & Test Reactor Fuels | 47

7. Conclusions
The information contained in this work can be used to determine preferred fuel and cladding type selections
for a to-be-constructed research reactor by comparison of the desired functionality with those research
reactors already operating, and with established fuel supplies. This consideration should take into account
desired operating power and fuel geometry.

Ongoing work expanding upon the information in this report includes evaluating the fabrication flow
diagrams reviewed in Chapter 3 for the most common (or upcoming) fuel types identified and discussed in
Chapters 2 and 4 and assessing them for proliferation risks, and opportunities for improvement in safety
and performance. The proliferation resistance methodology has been developed to allow quantification of
concerns and improvements related to proliferation, in parallel with the quantification of performance
(reliability and economics) and safety. The framework is being applied to plate-type dispersion (both
metallic and oxide) and monolithic fuels, pin-type oxide and metallic fuels, and co-extruded fuels.

Acknowledgements
This work was produced in collaboration with Battelle Savannah River Alliance, LLC under Contract No.
89303321CEM000080 with the U.S. Department of Energy. Publisher acknowledges the U.S.
Government license to provide public access under the DOE Public Access Plan
([Link]

Research & Test Reactor Fuels | 48

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Research & Test Reactor Fuels | 50

Appendix A: Research Reactors Operating with LEU Fuel
Data on reactors operating with LEU fuel, ordered alphabetically by IAEA research reactor database code. Information other than enrichment, fuel type, geometry, cladding type, and fuel loading were collected from the IAEA database [1]. Fuel-specific data was
collected from a range of sources, as documented in Appendix B for each reactor. Note that reactors in gray text were not included in the summation tables in Chapter 2, as there was either insufficient data available, or because they are critical or sub-critical
reactors.

Materials/ fuel testing

Neutron Radiography
Neutron Scattering
Isotope Production
Innovative Nuclear

Activation analysis
Energy Research

Neutron Therapy
Fuel Steady Pulsed

Measurements

Geochronology
IAEA Enrichment Cladding Thermal Fast

Transmutation
Name Fuel Type Geometry Loading Power Power Hours/Year

Nuclear Data
code (%U235) Type Flux Flux
(g/cc) (kW) (MW)

Teaching

Training
AR0001 RA-1 HALEU UO2 rod Al 40 0 1.5E12 1.0E12 4200 x x x
AR0002 RA-3 HALEU U3O8-Al plate Al 3 10000 0 8.0E13 2.5E14 5520 x x x x x
AR0003 RA-0 HALEU UO2 rod Al 0.01 1.0E7 1.0E7 208
AR0005 RA-4 HALEU U3O8-PE rod graphite 0.3 0.001 0 6.0E7 80 x x
AR0006 RA-6 HALEU U3Si2-Al plate Al 4.8 500 0 1.1E13 1.8E12 1000 x x x x x x
AR0007 RA-8 1.8-3.4% UO2 rod Zry-4 0.010 0 1.0E8 480 x x
Al,
TRIGA II
AT0002 HALEU U-ZrHx rod stainless 8.5wt%U 250 250 1.0E13 1.7E13 1680
VIENNA
steel x x x x x
AU0004 OPAL HALEU U3O8-Al plate Al alloy 4.8 20000 0 2.0E14 2.1E14 8736 x x x x x x x
BTRR, BAEC
TRIGA stainless
BD0001 HALEU U-ZrHx rod 20wt%U 3000 852 7.5E13 3.8E13 1200
Research steel
Reactor
x x x x x x
BE0001 BR-1 NU U rod Al alloy 1000 0 3.4E11 2.0E10 1400 x x x x
U3Si2-
BR0001 IEA-R1 HALEU plate Al 3 5000 0 4.6E13 1.3E14 3024
Al/U3O8-Al x x x x x x x x x
BR0002 IPR-R1 HALEU U-ZrHx rod Al 8.0wt%U 100 4.3E12 1.5E12 320 x x x x x
BR0003 Argonauta HALEU U3O8-Al plate Al 1.8 0.2 0.001 4.4E9 8.9E9 1720 x x x x x x
BR0005 RMB HALEU U3Si2-Al plate Al 30000 2.0E14 2.0E14 0 x x x x x x
YALINA-
BY0002 10% UO2-Al Rod Al 1E9 1E9 40
Thermal x

BY009 Giacint HALEU UZrCN Rod Nb 10.5

x x
MNR
CA0004 McMaster HALEU U3Si2-Al plate Al 3000 0 1.0E14 4.0E13 4000
University x x x x x x x
CA0005 ZED-2 NU UO2, U, UC rod Zry-2 0.2 0 1.0E9 5.0E8 260 x
SLOWPOKE-
CA0009 HALEU UO2 rod Zry-4 20 0 1.0E12 2.5E11 1500
2, Montreal x x x
SLOWPOKE-
CA0014 HALEU UO2 rod Zry-4 20 0 1.0E12 1.8E11 2000
2, RMC x x x x
CL0001 RECH-1 HALEU U3Si2-Al plate Al 3.4 5000 0 7.0E13 5.0E13 1200 x x x x x x

Research & Test Reactor Fuels | 51 Appendix A

 Materials/ fuel testing

Neutron Radiography
Neutron Scattering
Isotope Production
Innovative Nuclear

Activation analysis
Energy Research

Neutron Therapy
Fuel Steady Pulsed

Measurements

Geochronology
IAEA Enrichment Cladding Thermal Fast

Transmutation
Name Fuel Type Geometry Loading Power Power Hours/Year

Nuclear Data
code (%U235) Type Flux Flux
(g/cc) (kW) (MW)

Teaching

Training
concentric 12500
CN0004 HFETR HALEU U3Si2-Al Al 0 6.2E14 1.7E15 2016
tubes 0 x x x x
CN0005 SPR IAE 10% UO2-Mg rod 3500 0 4.0E13 1.1E13 2352 x x x x x x
CN0006 MNSR IAE 13% UO2 rod Zry-4 8.6 27 1.0E12 320 x x x
PPR stainless
CN0007 HALEU U-ZrHx rod 1000 3420 1.4E13 2.4E13 240
PULSING steel
HFETR concentric
CN0008 HALEU U3Si2-Al 0 1E8 1E8 800
Critical tubes x
CN0009 SPRR-300 10% UO2 rod 3000 0 6.0E13 2.0E12 0 x x x
CN0010 NHR-5 3% UO2 rod zircaloy 5000 0 1.6E13 1.7E13 2352
CN0011 ESR-901 19.75% 1000 0 1.3E13 1.0E13 240 x x x
concentric
CN0012 MJTR HALEU U3Si2-Al Al 5000 0 8.0E13 1.4E14 2352
tubes x x x x
CN0013 MNSR-SZ 13% UO2 rod Zry-4 8.6 30 1.0E12 400
CN0016 HTR-10 17% UO2-TRISO sphere graphite 10000 0 0
CN0017 CARR HALEU U3Si2-Al plate Al alloy 60000 0 8.0E14 6.0E14 0 x x x x x x
CN0019 IHNI-1 13% UO2 rod Zry-4 9.7 30 1.0E12 5.0E11 320 x x x
10.5/
CN0022 VENUS-1 3% UO2/U Rod Zry-2/Al
18.6
stainless
CO0001 IAN-R1 HALEU U-ZrHx rod 30 0 7.8E11 1600
steel x x x x
concentric
CZ0003 LVR-15 Rež HALEU UO2-Al Al alloy 10000 0 1.5E14 3.0E14 5040
tubes x x x x x x x x x
concentric
CZ0004 VR-1 HALEU UO2-Al Al alloy 5 0 2.0E09 1.0E9 1800
tubes x x x
CZ0006 LR-0 1.6-4.4% UO2 rod Zr 5 0 1.0E9 1.0E9 1440
stainless
DE0010 FRMZ HALEU U-ZrHx rod 8.5wt%U 100 250 4.2E12 4.8E12 1680
steel x x x x x x x
SUR
DE0014 HALEU U3O8-PE rod graphite 0.3 0 5.6E6 1.3E7 120
Stuttgart x x

DE0023 SUR Ulm HALEU U3O8-PE rod graphite 0.3 0 5E6 1E7 160
x x
SUR
DE0035 HALEU U3O8-PE rod graphite 0.3 0 6E6 1.2E7
Furtwangen x x
DE0044 AKR-2 HALEU U4O9-PE plate graphite 0.06 0.002 0 2.5E7 2.0E7 1800 x x x
DZ0001 NUR HALEU U3O8-Al plate Al 3 1000 0 5.0E13 4.0E12 240 x x x x x x x
DZ0002 ES-SALAM 3% UO2 rod Zry-4 15000 0 2.1E14 4.2E12 640 x x x x x x
EG0002 ETRR-2 HALEU U3O8-Al plate Al alloy 3.02 22000 0 2.8E14 2.2E14 1152 x x x x x x x
FR0015 Isis HALEU U3Si2-Al plate Al 700 0 2.7E12 2.6E12 900 x x

Research & Test Reactor Fuels | 52 Appendix A

 Materials/ fuel testing

Neutron Radiography
Neutron Scattering
Isotope Production
Innovative Nuclear

Activation analysis
Energy Research

Neutron Therapy
Fuel Steady Pulsed

Measurements

Geochronology
IAEA Enrichment Cladding Thermal Fast

Transmutation
Name Fuel Type Geometry Loading Power Power Hours/Year

Nuclear Data
code (%U235) Type Flux Flux
(g/cc) (kW) (MW)

Teaching

Training
stainless
FR0019 Cabri 6% UO2 rod 25000 20000 2.65E13 7.34E13 0
steel x
GH0001 GHARR-1 13% UO2 rod Zry-4 8.6 30 1.0E12 1.2E12 608 x x x
GR-B
GR0003 Subcritical 19.75% U3Si2-Al Plate Al 2.2 0 4E4 4E4 390
Assemly x x x
Nuclear
HU0001 Training 10% UO2-Mg tube Al alloy 100 0 4.0E12 2.0E12 360
Reactor x x x
Budapest
concentric
HU0002 Research HALEU UAlx-Al Al 10000 0 2.5E14 1.0E14 1680
tubes
Reactor x x x x x x x x x x
TRIGA MARK stainless 8.5 and
ID0001 19.75% U-ZrHx rod 2000 0 5.1E13 2.1E13 2160
II, Bandung steel 12 wt%U x x x x x
KARTINI- stainless 5.99
ID0002 HALEU U-ZrHx rod 100 1.9E12 1.6E12 900
PSTA steel gU/cc x x x
ID0003 RSG-GAS 19.75% U3Si2-Al plate AlMg2 30000 0 2.52E14 2.29E14 3528 x x x x x x x
IL0002 IRR-2 NU 26000 0 0
10000
IN0005 Dhruva NU U metal rod Zircaloy 0 1.8E14 4.5E13 8736
0 x x x x x x x
IN0008 KAMINI 100% U233 U-Al Plate 20wt% U 30 0 1.6E12 4.4E12 405 x x x x
Critical
Facility for U/MOX/U
IN0010 NU Rod 0.1 0 1E9 450
AHWR and O2
PHWR
IN0013 Apsara-U 17% U3Si2-Al plate Al alloy 2000 6.1E13 1.3E13 0 x x x
Tehran
Research
IR0001 HALEU U3O8-Al plate Al alloy 5000 0 1.0E14 1.0E13 4800
Reactor
(TRR) x x x x x x x x x x x

ENTC
IR0004 NU U 0.1 0 1E9 1E8
HWZPR
x x
LENA, TRIGA stainless
IT0005 HALEU U-ZrHx rod 8.5wt%U 250 0 1.0E13 1.2E13 1008
II PAVIA steel x x x x x
stainless
IT0006 TRIGA RC-1 HALEU U- ZrHx rod 1000 0 2.7E13 2.0E13 330
steel x x x x x
AGN-201
IT0010 HALEU UO2-PE rod graphite 0.2 0 9.0E9
Costanza
UWI CNS
JM0001 HALEU UO2 rod Zry-4 20 0 1.2E12 1.0E11 1125
SLOWPOKE x x x x
Research & Test Reactor Fuels | 53 Appendix A
 Materials/ fuel testing

Neutron Radiography
Neutron Scattering
Isotope Production
Innovative Nuclear

Activation analysis
Energy Research

Neutron Therapy
Fuel Steady Pulsed

Measurements

Geochronology
IAEA Enrichment Cladding Thermal Fast

Transmutation
Name Fuel Type Geometry Loading Power Power Hours/Year

Nuclear Data
code (%U235) Type Flux Flux
(g/cc) (kW) (MW)

Teaching

Training
JO0001 JSA 3.4% UO2 Rod Zry-4 1E4 x x x
JO0002 JRTR HALEU U3Si2-Al plate Al alloy 4.8 5000 0 1.45E14 2.38E13 0 x x x x
JP0008 JRR-3M HALEU U3Si2-Al plate Al alloy 4.8 20000 0 2.7E14 1.4E14 4704 x x x x x x x
JP0011 KUR HALEU U3Si2-Al plate Al alloy 3.2 5000 0 6.0E13 6.0E13 2208 x x x x x x x
stainless
JP0019 NSRR HALEU U- ZrHx rod 7.1 300 23000 1.9E12 6.3E12 80
steel x
14000
JP0020 JOYO 18% MOX rod 3E15 5712
0 x x x
JP0023 HTTR 6% UO2 rod graphite 30000 0 7.5E13 2E13
4, 6, and Uranyl
JP0024 STACY liquid SS304 0.2 0 540
10% Nitrate
KR0003 AGN-201K HALEU UO2-PE rod graphite 0.281 0.01 0 4.5E8 6.8E8 128 x x x x
KR0004 HANARO HALEU U3Si-Al rod AA1060 3.15 30000 0 4.5E14 2.0E14 4704 x x x x x x x x x
KR005 KJRR HALEU U7Mo-Al plate AA6061 6.5/8 15000 3.2E14 0 x x x
WWR-K
KZ0001 HALEU UO2-Al tubes Al 2.8 6000 0 1.0E12 4.0E13 3360
Almaty x x x x x x x
Uranium
wires in a Zr-Nb
KZ0003 IVG.1M HALEU rods 35000 8E14 1.7E14 N/A
zirconium alloy
matrix x x
KZ0004 WWR-K CF 19.7% UO2-Al Tube Al 2.8 0.1 3.7E9 7E8 120
LY0001 IRT-1 HALEU UO2-Al plate Al 10000 0 2.0E14 1.5E14 280 x x x x x
TNRC
LY0002 Critical HALEU UO2-Al plate Al 0.1 1E8
Facility x x
stainless
MA0001 MA-R1 HALEU U- ZrHx rod 8.5wt%U 2000 0 4.4E13 1.8E13 0
steel x x x x x x
TRIGA Mark stainless
MX0001 HALEU U- ZrHx rod 1000 2000 3.3E13 3.1E13 1152
III steel x x x x
Nuclear
MX0004 Chicago NU U ring 0 0 3.18E4 1.15E5 690
Mod 9000 x x
TRIGA
stainless
MY0001 Puspati HALEU U- ZrHx rod 1000 1.0E13 1.0E13 840
steel
(RTP) x x x x x x
NG0001 NIRR-1 13% UO2 rod Zry-4 9.35 30 0.087 1.0E12 5.0E12 405 x x x x x
NL0002 HOR HALEU U3Si2-Al plate Al 4.3 2300 0 4.6E13 4.1E13 5400 x x x x x
NL0004 HFR HALEU U3Si2-Al plate Al alloy 45000 0 2.7E14 5.1E14 7392 x x x x x x x x x
PE0001 RP-0 HALEU U3O8-Al plate Al alloy 2.3 0.001 0 1E7 312 x x x
PE0002 RP-10 HALEU U3Si2-Al plate AlMg1 2.3 10000 0 1.21E14 1.0E14 936 x x x x x x x
PK0001 PARR-1 HALEU U3Si2-Al plate Al alloy 3.32 10000 0 1.7E14 1.4E14 750 x x x x x x x
PK0002 PARR-2 12% UO2 rod Zry-4 8.6 30 1.0E12 3.2E11 250 x x x

Research & Test Reactor Fuels | 54 Appendix A

 Materials/ fuel testing

Neutron Radiography
Neutron Scattering
Isotope Production
Innovative Nuclear

Activation analysis
Energy Research

Neutron Therapy
Fuel Steady Pulsed

Measurements

Geochronology
IAEA Enrichment Cladding Thermal Fast

Transmutation
Name Fuel Type Geometry Loading Power Power Hours/Year

Nuclear Data
code (%U235) Type Flux Flux
(g/cc) (kW) (MW)

Teaching

Training
PL0004 MARIA HALEU U3Si2-Al tubes Al 4.8 30000 0 3.5E14 1.0E14 4800 x x x x x x x
TRIGA II
incoloy-
RO0002 Pitesti - SS HALEU U- ZrHx rod 0.723 14000 0 2.6E14 1.8E14 6720
800
Core x x x x x x x
TRIGA II
stainless
RO0004 Pitesti - HALEU U- ZrHx rod 0.723 500 20000 2.0E13 2.5E13 0
steel
Pulsed x x x x x
stainless
RU0018 Argus HALEU UO2-SO4 liquid 20 0 5.0E11 9.2E10 0
steel x x x x
zirconiu 20000
RU0043 VK-50 4% UO2 rod 9.7 0 5E13 1.5E14 6888
m 0 x x x
RU0050 U-3 10% UO2-Mg rod Al 50 5.3E11 1.2E12

RU110 UVPSh NU U Al alloy 19.1

x
UG
RU111 NU U Rod Al alloy 19.1 5E6
subcritical x

RU114 UV NU U Rod Al alloy 19.1 2.3E7

x
TRIGA-
stainless
SI0001 MARK II HALEU U- ZrHx rod 250 1800 1.0E13 6.0E12 705
steel
LJUBLJANA x x x x x
stainless
TH0001 TRR-1/M1 HALEU U- ZrHx rod 1300 3.1E13 1.8E13 546
steel x x x x x x
stainless
TR0003 ITU-TRR HALEU U- ZrHx rod 250 1200 8.1E12 1.8E12 144
steel x x x x
stainless
TW0001 THOR HALEU U- ZrHx rod 2000 0 3.6E13 6.0E12 1290
steel x x x x x
concentric
UA0001 WWR-M Kiev HALEU UO2-Al Al alloy 10000 0 1.2E14 7.0E13 3000
tubes x x x x x
UA0002 SNI, IR-100 10% UO2-Mg rod Al alloy 250 4000 5.4E12 6.2E12 1152 x x x x x x x x
stainless
US0001 ARRR HALEU U- ZrHx rod 250 3.0E13 8.5E13 3640
steel x
304
US0018 NRAD 19.75% U-ZrHx rod stainless 30 wt% 250 0 5E12 960
steel x
Bettis TRX
US0035 1.3% UO2 Rod Al 0.01
CA x x
AGN-201M
US0094 Idaho St. HALEU UO2-PE Rod 0.28 0.005 0 2.5E8 3E8 256
Univ.
KSU TRIGA stainless
US0120 HALEU U- ZrHx rod 250 250 1E13 1.2E13 500
MARK II steel

Research & Test Reactor Fuels | 55 Appendix A

 Materials/ fuel testing

Neutron Radiography
Neutron Scattering
Isotope Production
Innovative Nuclear

Activation analysis
Energy Research

Neutron Therapy
Fuel Steady Pulsed

Measurements

Geochronology
IAEA Enrichment Cladding Thermal Fast

Transmutation
Name Fuel Type Geometry Loading Power Power Hours/Year

Nuclear Data
code (%U235) Type Flux Flux
(g/cc) (kW) (MW)

Teaching

Training
PULSTAR
US0130 N.C. STATE 4 and 6% UO2 rod zircaloy 9.3 1000 0 1.1E13 2E12 2000
UNIV x x x x x
304
US0148 OSTR HALEU U- ZrHx rod stainless 30 wt% 1100 2000 1.0E13 1.0E13 1750
steel x x x x x x
OSURR Ohio
US0151 HALEU U3Si2-Al plate Al 500 1.5E13 1.0E13
State Univ. x x x x x x
stainless 8.5/
US0152 PSBR HALEU U- ZrHx rod 1000 2000 3.3E13 3.0E13 2250
steel 12wt%U x x x x x x x
PUR-1
US0156 HALEU U3Si2-Al plate Al 1 0 2.1E10 1.2E10 75
Purdue Univ.
stainless
RRR Reed
US0157 HALEU U- ZrHx rod steel or 8.5wt%U 250 1.0E13 2.0E12 250
College
Al x x x x
RCF
Stainless
US0158 Rensselaer HALEU UO2 Rod 4.81 wt% 0.1 0 1E8 180
Steel
Polytechnic x x
RINSC
US0159 Rhode HALEU U3Si2-Al plate Al 2000 0 2.0E13 3.0E13 416
Island NSC x x
Al and
US0180 DOW TRIGA HALEU U-ZrHx Rod stainless 0.5
steel
stainless
US0182 GSTR HALEU U- ZrHx rod 1000 1600 3.0E13 2.5E13 900
steel x x x x x x
stainless
US0185 AFRRI TRIGA HALEU U- ZrHx rod 1000 3300 1.0E13 1.0EE12 376
steel x x x x x
UC Irvine stainless
US0188 HALEU U- ZrHx rod 250 1000 5.0E12 1.0E11 300
TRIGA steel
AGN-201
US0191 Texas A&M HALEU UO2-PE plate graphite 0.28 0.005 0 2.0E8 1.0E8
Univ.
stainless
US0192 NSCR HALEU U- ZrHx rod 30 wt% 1000 1040 2.0E13 2.0E11 2750
steel x x x x x x
UFTR Univ.
US0196 HALEU U3Si2-Al plate AA6061 100 0 2.0E12 1.5E11 2000
Florida x x x x x x x
US0201 UMLR HALEU U3Si2-Al plate Al 1000 0 1.4E13 9.2E12 810
AGN-201
US0201 Univ. New HALEU UO2-PE rod graphite 0.005 0 2.5E8 75
Mexico x x
MUTR Univ. stainless
US0202 HALEU U- ZrHx rod 250 3.0E12 1.0E13 960
Maryland steel x x

Research & Test Reactor Fuels | 56 Appendix A

 Materials/ fuel testing

Neutron Radiography
Neutron Scattering
Isotope Production
Innovative Nuclear

Activation analysis
Energy Research

Neutron Therapy
Fuel Steady Pulsed

Measurements

Geochronology
IAEA Enrichment Cladding Thermal Fast

Transmutation
Name Fuel Type Geometry Loading Power Power Hours/Year

Nuclear Data
code (%U235) Type Flux Flux
(g/cc) (kW) (MW)

Teaching

Training
MSTR
Missouri
0.00E+0
US0205 Univ. of HALEU U3Si2-Al plate Al 200 2.0E12 1.0E12 960
0
Science &
Tech.
stainless
US0206 WSUR HALEU U- ZrHx rod 1000 1800 7.0E12 4.0E12 1350
steel x x x x
TRIGA Univ. stainless
US0211 HALEU U- ZrHx rod 100 0 4.5E12 2.5E12 100
Utah steel x x x
stainless
US0215 UWNR HALEU U- ZrHx rod 1000 1200 3.2E13 3.0E13 1560
steel x x x x
TRIGA II stainless
US0221 HALEU U- ZrHx rod 1100 1600 2.7E13 4.8E13 1350
Univ. Texas steel x x x x x x x
UC Davis/
stainless
US0222 McClellan HALEU U- ZrHx rod 2000 400 3.0E13 1.0E13 1920
steel
TRIGA x x x x x x
WWR-SM
UZ0001 19.82% UO2-Al tube Al alloy 3 10000 0 2.3E14 1E14 4200
TASHKENT x x x x x x x
DALAT
VN0001 research 19.75 UO2-Al tube Al alloy 2.5 500 0 2.1E13 6E12 1152
reactor x x x x x x
ZA0001 SAFARI-1 HALEU U3Si2-Al plate Al alloy 0.57 20000 0 2.4E14 2.8E14 7392 x x x x x x x x

References Appendix A

Research & Test Reactor Fuels | 57 Appendix A

1. IAEA Research Reactor Database. [cited 2020 June]; Available from: [Link]

Research & Test Reactor Fuels | 58 Appendix A

Appendix B: Research Reactor Information
Data on reactors that are currently operating, temporarily shutdown, under construction, or planned. Most critical assembly reactors have been excluded from this database.
IAEA Reactor Construction Power, Thermal,
Country Name Status Owner Operator
Code Type Date Steady (kW) Fuel Type Geometry Cladding Enrichment U-density Fuel Fabricator References
[1] [1] [1] [1] [1]
[1] [1] [1] [1]
Argentina RA-1 AR0001 TANK 1957-04-01 OPERATIONAL Comision Comision Nacional 40 UO2 rod-type aluminum HALEU [2, 3]
Enrico Nacional de de Energia
Fermi Energia Atomica Atomica (CNEA)
Reactor (CNEA)
Argentina RA-3 AR0002 POOL 1963-02-01 OPERATIONAL COMISION RA-3 REACTOR 10000 1) UAl alloy MTR plate-type aluminum 1) 93% LEU fuel 3.0 LEU fuel made [1, 2, 4, 5]
NACIONAL DE 2) U3O8-Al 2) HALEU gU/cc by CNEA
ENERGIA
ATOMICA
Argentina RA-0 AR0003 TANK 1964-01-01 OPERATIONAL UNIVERSIDAD UNIVERSIDAD 0.01 UO2 pin type aluminum HALEU CNEA [1, 2]
NACIONAL NACIONAL
CORDOBA CORDOBA
Argentina RA-4 AR0005 HOMOG 1971-01-01 OPERATIONAL Universidad Instituto de 0.001 U3O8-polyethylene Disk graphite HALEU 0.3 gU/cc NUKEM, [1, 2]
(S) Nacional de Estudios Germany
Rosario Nucleares y
Radiaciones
Ionizantes
Argentina RA-6 AR0006 POOL 1978-09-01 OPERATIONAL COMICION CENTRO ATOMICO 500 1) UAl MTR plate-type aluminum 1) 93% LEU fuel 4.8 CNEA [1, 2, 5]
NACIONAL DE BARILOCHE 2) U3Si2-Al 2) HALEU gU/cc Argentina
ENERGIA
ATOMICA
Argentina RA-8 AR0007 CRIT 1986-01-01 TEMPORARY CNEA CNEA 0.01 UO2 pellet (PWR) zircaloy-4 1.8-3.4% [2]
ASSEMBL SHUTDOWN
Y
Argentina RA-10 AR008 POOL UNDER National Atomic Ezeiza Atomic 30000 U3Si2-Al MTR plate-type aluminum HALEU [6, 7]
CONSTRUCTI Energy Centre
ON Commission
(CNEA)
Argentina CAREM AR009 PWR 2013-04-01 UNDER National Atomic Nucleoelectrica 100000 UO2 standard PWR with [2]
25 PROPULS CONSTRUCTI Energy Argentina S.A. burnable poison
ION ON Commission
(CNEA)
Australia OPAL AU0004 POOL 2002-04-01 OPERATIONAL Australian ANSTO Nuclear 20000 U3Si2-Al plate aluminum HALEU 4.8 gU/cc CERCA [8-10]
Nuclear Science Operations
and Technology Division
Organisation
Austria TRIGA II AT0002 TRIGA 1959-08-27 OPERATIONAL Vienna Vienna University 250 U-ZrHx pin Al alloy and SS 1) HALEU 8.5 wt% U GA [11, 12]
VIENNA MARK II University of of 2) HALEU and
Technology/Ato Technology/Atomi 70% (FLIP)
minstitut nstitut 3) HALU
Banglades BTRR, BD0001 TRIGA 1981-05-01 OPERATIONAL Bangladesh Atomic Energy 3000 U-ZrHx pin SS HALEU max 20 wt% GA [13]
h BAEC MARK II Atomic Energy Research U
TRIGA Commission Establishment
Research (AERE)
Reactor
Belarus YALINA- BY0002 SUBCRIT 2000-01-01 OPERATIONAL Joint Institute JIPNR-Sosny 0 UO2 -Mg Pin Al alloy 10% TVEL [14, 15]
Thermal for Power and Russia
Nuclear
YALINA-T Research
(JIPNR-Sosny)

Research & Test Reactor Fuels | 59 Appendix B

 IAEA Reactor Construction Power, Thermal,
Country Name Status Owner Operator
Code Type Date Steady (kW) Fuel Type Geometry Cladding Enrichment U-density Fuel Fabricator References
[1] [1] [1] [1] [1]
[1] [1] [1] [1]
Belarus YALINA- BY0003 SUBCRIT 2005-05-30 OPERATIONAL Joint Institute JIPNR-Sosny 0 Fast Neutron Pin Fast Neutron Fast Neutron TVEL [1, 15, 16]
Booster for Power and Zone: Zone: stainless Zone: 1) 90% Russia
Nuclear 1) U-metal steel 2) 36%
YALINA-B Research 2) UO2 Thermal 3) 21%
(JIPNR-Sosny) 3) UO2 Neutron Zone: Thermal
Thermal Neutron aluminum alloy Neutron Zone:
Zone: 1) 36%
1) UO2-Mg 2) 21%
2) UO2-Mg
Belarus Giacint BY009 CRIT 2007-01-01 OPERATIONAL National Joint Institute of UZrCN [17, 18]
FSUE “SRI SIA
ASSEMBL Academy of Power and specific
rod SS or Nb metal HALEU 10.5 gU/cc “LUCH” and
Y Sciences of Nuclear Research composition:
JIPNR-Sosny
Belarus "Sosny" U0.9Zr0.1CXN1-x
Belgium BR-1 BE0001 GRAPHIT 1954-01-01 OPERATIONAL [Link] [Link] 1000 [19-21]
U metal rod Al alloy NU
E
Belgium BR-2 BE0002 TANK IN 1958-01-01 OPERATIONAL [Link] [Link] 100000 UAlx-Al Plate Al alloy 93% 1.3 gu/cc CERCA to [19, 20, 22-
POOL BWXT 24]
Belgium VENUS-F BE0006 SUBCRIT 1963-01-01 OPERATIONAL [Link] [Link] 0.1 U-Pb rod SS 30% [25]
Belgium MYRRHA BE0007 FAST PLANNED [Link] [Link] 85000 Wide variety of rod 9Cr ferrite- 30-35% Pu [26-28]
fuels, including martensitic
MOX steel
Brazil IEA-R1 BR0001 POOL 1956-01-11 OPERATIONAL IPEN-CNEN/ IPEN 5000 1)LEU UAl MTR plate-type aluminum LEU (HALEU), 3.0 gU/cc 1,2) B&W [2, 29-31]
Isotope SAO PAULO 2)HEU UAl HEU (93%) (U3Si2-Al) 3) NUKEM
productio 3)LEU UAlx-Al 2.3 gU/cc 3)IPEN
n 4) LEU U3Si2-Al (U3O8-Al) 4)IPEN
5) (with 4) LEU 5)IPEN
U3O8-Al
Brazil IPR-R1 BR0002 TRIGA 1958-01-01 OPERATIONAL CENTRO DE CENTRO DE 100 U-ZrHx TRIGA® TRIGA® rods aluminum HALEU 8.0 wt% U [29, 32-34]
MARK I DESENVOLVIME DESENVOLVIMEN fuel
NTO DA TO DA
CDTN/CNEN
TECNOLOGIA TECNOLOGIA
NUCLEAR/CDTN NUCLEAR/CDTN-
-CNEN CNEN
Brazil Argonaut BR0003 ARGONAU 1963-07-07 OPERATIONAL COMISSAO INSTITUTO DE 0.2 U3O8-Al MTR plate-type aluminum 1) 93% 2) 1.8 gU/cc IPEN/CNEN, [1, 2, 35,
a T NACIONAL DE ENGENHARIA 2) HALEU Brazil 36]
ENERGIA NUCLEAR (IEN)
NUCLEAR
(CNEN)
Brazil IPEN/MB- BR0004 POOL 1984-11-01 OPERATIONAL IPEN-CNEN, SAO IPEN, CIDADE 0.1 UO2 pin PWR SS 4.35% 10.33gU/cc IPEN/CNEN, [1, 2, 37]
01 Criticality PAULO UNIVERSITARIA Brazil
Brazil RMB BR0005 POOL PLANNED National Nuclear Energy 30000 U3Si2-Al MTR plate-type Al 19.75 2.8 gU/cc IPEN/CNEN, [38, 39]
Nuclear Energy Research Insitute Brazil
Commission (IPEN)
(CNEN)
Canada MNR CA0004 POOL, 1957-09-01 OPERATIONAL McMaster Nuclear Reactor 3000 1) UAl alloy curved plate Al 1) 93% LEU fuel by [1, 40, 41]
McMaster MTR University Laboratory 2) U3Si2-Al 2) HALEU CERCA
University
Canada ZED-2 CA0005 TANK 1958-12-01 OPERATIONAL Atomic Energy Chalk River 0.2 UO2, U metal, UC Rod Zircaloy-2 alloy NU AECL [1, 42]
of Canada, Ltd. Laboratories
Canada Ecole CA0007 SUBCRIT 1973-01-01 OPERATIONAL Universite de Ecole 0.001 U bar bar [43]
Polytechn Montreal Polytechnique de
ique Montreal
Subcritica
l
Assembly

Research & Test Reactor Fuels | 60 Appendix B

 IAEA Reactor Construction Power, Thermal,
Country Name Status Owner Operator
Code Type Date Steady (kW) Fuel Type Geometry Cladding Enrichment U-density Fuel Fabricator References
[1] [1] [1] [1] [1]
[1] [1] [1] [1]
Canada SLOWPO CA0009 SLOWPO 1975-01-01 OPERATIONAL Ecole 20 1) UAl alloy 1) slug 1) Al alloy 1) 93% AECL (now [44-46]
KE-2, KE-2 Polytechnique 2) UO2 2) pellet 2) Zircaloy-4 2) HALEU CNL)
Montreal de Montreal tube
Canada SLOWPO CA0014 SLOWPO 1985-08-20 OPERATIONAL Minister of Authority at the 20 1) UAl alloy Pellets in rod 1) Al alloy 1) 93% AECL (now [44, 47]
KE-2, KE-2 National Royal Military 2) UO2 2) Zircaloy-4 2) HALEU CNL)
RMC Defence College of Canada tube
Chile RECH-1 CL0001 POOL 1970-10-10 OPERATIONAL Comision La Reina Nuclear 5000 1) UAl alloy MTR plate-type aluminum 1) 80% 2) 3.4 gU/cc CCHEN [1, 48, 49]
Chilena de Centre-CCHEN 2) U3Si2-Al 2) HALEU
Energia Nuclear
Chile RECH-2 CL0002 POOL 1972-12-01 EXTENDED Comision Lo Aguirre Nuclear 2000 1) UAl alloy MTR plate-type aluminum 1) 80% CCHEN [1, 48]
SHUTDOWN Chilena de Center-CCHEN 2) U3Si2-Al 2) HALEU
Energia Nuclear
(CCHEN)
China HFETR CN0004 TANK 1971-01-15 OPERATIONAL Nuclear Power Nuclear Power 125000 1) UAl alloy 6 concentric tubes Al 1) 90% HEU fuel [50-52]
Institute of Institute of China 2) U3Si2-Al in a fuel 2) HALEU supplied by
China Russia
China SPR IAE CN0005 POOL 1958-12-31 OPERATIONAL Institute of Department of 3500 UO2 -Mg (CERMET) rod aluminum 10% [51, 53]
Atomic Energy Reactor
Engineering &
Technology
China MNSR IAE CN0006 MNSR 1981-12-01 OPERATIONAL China Institute Department of 27 1) UAl alloy 1) slug 1) Al-303-1 1) 90% 1) 0.92 CNNC China [54-56]
of Atomic Reactor 2) UO2 2) pellet alloy 2) 13% gU/cc
Energy Engineering & 2) Zircaloy-4 2) 8.1 gU/cc
Technology

China PPR CN0007 POOL, 1986-01-01 OPERATIONAL Nuclear Power Nuclear Power 1000 U-ZrH1.6 Pin SS HALEU NPIC [57]
PULSING UZRH Institute of Institute of China
China
(NPIC)
China HFETR CN0008 CRIT 1976-07-10 OPERATIONAL Nuclear Power Nuclear Power 0 1) UAl alloy 6 concentric tubes Al 1) 90% HEU fuel [51]
Critical ASSEMBL Institute of Institute of China 2) U3Si2-Al in a fuel 2) HALEU supplied by
Y China Russia (TVEL)
China SPRR- CN0009 POOL 1975-09-05 OPERATIONAL Southwest Southwest 3000 UO2 Rod 10% [51, 58, 59]
300 Institute of Institute of
Nuclear Physics Nuclear Physics &
& Chemistry Chemistry
Sichuan
China NHR-5 CN0010 HEATING 1986-01-01 OPERATIONAL Tsinghua Institute of 5000 UO2 rod Zircaloy 3% [60, 61]
PROTOTY University Nuclear Energy
PE Technology
for NHR-
200
China ESR-901 CN0011 POOL-2 1962-01-01 OPERATIONAL Tsinghua Institute of 1000 19.75% [62]
CORES University Nuclear Energy
Technology
China MJTR CN0012 POOL 1986-10-29 OPERATIONAL Nuclear Power Nuclear Power 5000 1) UAl alloy 6 concentric tubes Al 1) 90% HEU fuel [50, 51, 63]
Institute of Institute of China 2)U3Si2-Al in a fuel 2) HALEU supplied by
China (spent fuel from Russia
HFETR)

Research & Test Reactor Fuels | 61 Appendix B

 IAEA Reactor Construction Power, Thermal,
Country Name Status Owner Operator
Code Type Date Steady (kW) Fuel Type Geometry Cladding Enrichment U-density Fuel Fabricator References
[1] [1] [1] [1] [1]
[1] [1] [1] [1]
China MNSR-SZ CN0013 MNSR OPERATIONAL Shenzhen Institute of Joint 30 1) UAl alloy 1) Pin 1) Al-303-1 1) 90% 1) 0.92 CNNC China [54-56]
University Nuclear 2) UO2 2) LEU fuel pellet alloy gU/cc
Techniques fuel active length 2) 13% 2) 8.6 gU/cc
23 cm 2) Zircaloy-4
China HTR-10 CN0016 HIGH OPERATIONAL Tsinghua Tsinghua 10000 UO2 UO2 spherical Layers of 17% [64]
TEMP University University kernels embedded pyrolytic
GAS in a sphere (TRISO carbon and SiC
type)
China CARR CN0017 TANK IN 2002-08-26 OPERATIONAL CHINA Dept. of Reactor 60000 U3Si2-Al Plate Al alloy HALEU CIAE and CNNC [65-67]
POOL INSTITUTE OF Engineering,
ATOMIC Research and
ENERGY (CNNC) Design
China CEFR CN0018 FAST 1998-11-01 OPERATIONAL CIAE CIAE 65000 UO2 Pellets in rod SS 64.40% TVEL Russia [58, 68-70]
BREEDER

China IHNI-1 CN0019 MNSR 2007-06-01 OPERATIONAL Beijing Capture Beijing Capture 30 UO2 LEU fuel pellet 13% LEU fuel CNNC China [71]
Tech Co., Ltd. Tech Co., Ltd. Zircaloy-4 density 9.7
gU/cc
China TFHR CN0020 EXPERIM PLANNED Chinese Shanghai Institute 2000 Graphite [72]
Thorium ENTAL Academy of of Applied Physics UO2+ThO2 TRISO TRISO Matrix
Pebble Sciences (SINAP) (spherical)
Bed
China TMSR- CN0021 EXPERIM PLANNED Chinese Shanghai Institute 2000 (U/Th)F4 liquid UNS N1003 [73{Zou,
LF1 ENTAL Academy of of Applied Physics alloy (Hastelloy 2019
Sciences (SINAP) N), China #619]}
Standard
GH3535
China VENUS-1 CN0022 SUBCRIT 2005-01-01 OPERATIONAL China Institute China Institute of 0 Fast neutron Pin Fast Neutron Fast Neutron Fast neutron [74, 75]
ADS of Atomic Atomic Energy zone: Natural U Zone: Al Zone: NU zone: 18.6
Energy gU/cc
Thermal neutron Thermal Thermal Thermal
zone: UO2 Neutron Zone: Neutron Zone: neutron
Zircaloy-2 3% zone: 10.5
gU/cc
China CMRR CN0023 POOL OPERATIONAL China Academy Institute of 20000 U10Zr alloy cylindrical slug Zircaloy-4 2, 4, 6, 8, or [76, 77]
(China of Engineering Nuclear Physics 10%
Mianyang Physics and Chemistry
Research
Reactor)
China TMSR- CN0024 EXPERIM PLANNED Chinese Shanghai Institute 10000 UO2+ThO2 TRISO UNS N1003 [73, 78, 79]
SF1 ENTAL Academy of of Applied Physics alloy (Hastelloy
Sciences (SINAP) N), China
Standard
GH3535

Colombia IAN-R1 CO0001 TRIGA 1964-09-01 OPERATIONAL Instituto Instituto 30 1) UAl alloy 1) Plate 1) Al alloy 1) 93% GA [1, 80]
CONV Colombiano de Colombiano de 2) U-ZrHx TRIGA® 2) pin 2) SS 2) HALEU
Geología y Geología y fuel
Minería- Minería-
INGEOMINAS INGEOMINAS
Czech LVR-15 CZ0003 TANK 1955-01-01 OPERATIONAL Nuclear Nuclear Research 10000 UO2 -Al IRT-2M type to IRT- Al alloy 1) 36% [81, 82]
Republic Rež WWR Research Centre Rež 4M type (square 2) HALEU NCCP (TVEL),
Centre Rež concentric tubes) Novosibirsk,
Russia

Research & Test Reactor Fuels | 62 Appendix B

 IAEA Reactor Construction Power, Thermal,
Country Name Status Owner Operator
Code Type Date Steady (kW) Fuel Type Geometry Cladding Enrichment U-density Fuel Fabricator References
[1] [1] [1] [1] [1]
[1] [1] [1] [1]
Czech VR-1 CZ0004 POOL 1986-01-01 OPERATIONAL Czech Technical Faculty of Nuclear 5 UO2 -Al Square concentric Al alloy 1) IRT-3M TVEL Russia [83]
Republic University in Sciences & tubes (36%)
Prague Physical 2) IRT-4M
Engineering (HALEU)
Czech LR-0 CZ0006 POOL-VAR 1980-10-10 OPERATIONAL Research Research Centre 5 UO2 (VVER type Pellets in rod Zr 1.6 - 4.4% TVEL Russia [1, 84]
Republic Centre Rez ltd. Rez ltd. fuel)

Czech VR-2 CZ0006 Subcritica PLANNED Czech Technical Czech Technical 0 EK-10 (UO2-Mg). rod aluminum NU, 10% [85, 86]
Republic l Pool University in University in Donated by the
Prague Prague Aalto University in
Finland
Algeria NUR DZ0001 POOL 1987-01-01 OPERATIONAL Commissariat à Centre de 1000 U3O8-Al MTR type plate aluminum HALEU 3.0 gU/cc CNEA [4, 87, 88]
l'Energie Recherche
Atomique Nucléaire de
Draria (CRND)
Algeria ES- DZ0002 HEAVY 1988-01-01 TEMPORARY Commissariat à Centre de 15000 UO2 rod Zry-4 3% CNNC, China [55, 89]
SALAM WATER SHUTDOWN l'Energie Recherche
Atomique Nucléaire de
Birine (CRNB)
Dem. P.R. IRT-DPRK KP0001 POOL, IRT 1963-03-01 OPERATIONAL STATE CENTRE FOR 8000 UO2-Mg dispersion Cylindrical tube Al alloy 1) 10% Initial fuel TVEL [90-92]
of Korea (IRT- COMMITTEE ATOMIC ENERGY (EK-10) Square tube 2) 36% (USSR)
2000) FOR ATOMIC UO2-Al dispersion since 1992
ENERGY (ITR-2M) DPRK
Egypt ETRR-2 EG0002 POOL 1992-12-01 OPERATIONAL ATOMIC ATOMIC ENERGY 22000 U3O8-Al dispersion Plate Al alloy HALEU 3.02 gU/cc FMPP Inshas [1, 93, 94]
MPR ENERGY AUTHORITY OF Argentina
AUTHORITY OF EGYPT
EGYPT
France Isis FR0015 POOL 1964-01-01 OPERATIONAL French Atomic CEA Saclay 700 U3Si2-Al dispersion MTR type plate Al HALEU COGEMA [1, 23, 95]
Energy Framatome(No
Commission w AREVA)
(CEA)
France Masurca FR0016 CRIT 1964-02-01 TEMPORARY French Atomic CEN Cadarache 5 MOX rod SS Cadarache [23, 96]
FAST SHUTDOWN Energy and Alt. CEA
Energies
Commission
(CEA)
France ILL High FR0017 HEAVY 1967-01-01 OPERATIONAL Institut Laue- Institut Laue- 58300 UAlx-Al dispersion Plate Al 93% CERCA [23, 97, 98]
Flux WATER Langevin Langevin Framatome
Reactor
(RHF)
France Cabri FR0019 POOL 1962-01-01 OPERATIONAL French Atomic CEN Cadarache 25000 UO2 disc SS 6% COGEMA [23, 95, 99]
Energy Framatome(No
Commission w AREVA)
(CEA)
France REACTOR FR0050 TANK IN 2007-03-19 UNDER CEA CEA 100000 Plate Aluminum 1) 27% 8 gU/cc CERCA [100, 101]
JULES POOL CONSTRUCTI 1) Initially to be 2) HALEU
HOROWIT ON started on U3Si2-
Z Al,
2) then to be
converted to
UMo (dispersion
or monolithic)

Research & Test Reactor Fuels | 63 Appendix B

 IAEA Reactor Construction Power, Thermal,
Country Name Status Owner Operator
Code Type Date Steady (kW) Fuel Type Geometry Cladding Enrichment U-density Fuel Fabricator References
[1] [1] [1] [1] [1]
[1] [1] [1] [1]
Germany FRMZ DE0010 TRIGA 1961-02-27 OPERATIONAL Johannes Institut für 100 U-ZrHx TRIGA® pin SS HALEU 8.5 wt% U in GA [1, 102]
MARK II Gutenberg - Kernchemie fuel fuel meat
Universität
Mainz
Germany SUR DE0014 HOMOG 1962-01-01 OPERATIONAL Universität Inst. für 0 U3O8-polyethylene pin graphite HALEU 0.3 gU/cc NUKEM, [1]
Stuttgart (S) Stuttgart Kernenergetik Germany
und
Energiesysteme
Germany SUR Ulm DE0023 HOMOG 1965-01-01 OPERATIONAL Labor für Fachhochschule 0 U3O8-polyethylene pin graphite HALEU 0.3 gU/cc NUKEM, [1]
(S) Strahlenmesste Ulm Germany
chnik und
Reaktortechnik
Germany SUR DE0035 HOMOG 1972-01-01 OPERATIONAL Fachhochschule Fachhochschule 0 [1]
NUKEM,
Furtwang (S) Furtwangen Furtwangen U3O8-polyethylene pin graphite HALEU 0.3 gU/cc
Germany
en
Germany AKR-2 DE0044 HOMOG 1975-09-01 OPERATIONAL Technische Fakultät 0.002 U4O9-polyethylene plate Al HALEU 0.06 gU/cc SIEMENS [99, 103,
(S) Universität Maschinenwesen Germany 104]
Dresden
Germany FRM II DE0051 Pool 1996-08-01 Temporary Free State of Technische 20000 U3Si2-Al cylindrical element, Aluminum Alloy 93% 3 and 1.5 CERCA [100, 105-
Shutdown Bavaria Universität where the fuel gU/cc 108]
München plates are involute
in a hollow cylinder
United Neptune GB0010 POOL 1962-01-02 OPERATIONAL Rolls-Royce Rolls-Royce 0.3 U15Zr alloy Plate Zr 97% Rolls Royce [109-111]
Kingdom Marine Power Marine Power and Associates
Operations Ltd Operations Ltd
Ghana GHARR-1 GH0001 MNSR 1994-01-01 OPERATIONAL Ghana Atomic National Nuclear 30 1) UAl alloy 1) Pin 1) Al-303-1 1) 90% 2) 8.6 gU/cc CNNC, China [55, 56,
Energy Research Institute 2) UO2 2) pellet alloy 2) 13% 112]
Commission 2) Zircaloy-4
Greece Demokrit GR0001 POOL 1959-08-01 Extended NCSR Institute of 5000 1) UAl alloy Plate aluminum 1) 93% 2) 1) 0.58 CERCA (LEU) [113-115]
os (GRR- Shutdown "Demokritos" Nuclear 2) U3Si2-Al 19.75% gU/cc
1) Technology-Rad 2) 3.36
Protection gU/cc
Greece GR-B GR0003 SUBCRIT 1971-08-04 OPERATIONAL Aristotle Atomic and 0 U metal NU [116]
Subcritica University of Nuclear Physics
l Thessaloniki Laboratory
Assembly
STNR
Hungary Nuclear HU0001 POOL 1969-01-01 OPERATIONAL Budapest Institute for 100 UO2 -Mg Cylindrical tube Al alloy 10% TVEL [117]
Training University of Nuclear dispersion
Reactor Technology and Techniques (BME
Economics NTI)
Hungary Budapest HU0002 TANK 1956-05-02 OPERATIONAL MTA KFKI Atomic Energy 10000 1) UO2-Mg 1) Rod Al alloy 1) 10% TVEL [118-121]
Research WWR Atomic Energy Research Institute 2) UAlx-Al 2-4) concentric 2) 36%
Reactor Research 3) UO2-Al tubes (two circular 3) 36%
BRR Institute 4) UO2-Al inner tubes and 4) HALEU
one hexagonal
outer tube)

India Dhruva IN0005 HEAVY 1975-10-10 OPERATIONAL Bhabha Atomic BARC, Reactor 100000 U metal rod Zircaloy NU 19.1 gU/cc BARC [122]
WATER Research Operations
Centre Division
India FBTR IN0007 FAST 1972-01-01 OPERATIONAL Department of Indira Gandhi 40000 PuC (70%)+UC Pellets in rod stainless steel HEU BARC [123]
BREEDER Atomic Energy Centre for Atomic
Research

Research & Test Reactor Fuels | 64 Appendix B

 IAEA Reactor Construction Power, Thermal,
Country Name Status Owner Operator
Code Type Date Steady (kW) Fuel Type Geometry Cladding Enrichment U-density Fuel Fabricator References
[1] [1] [1] [1] [1]
[1] [1] [1] [1]
India KAMINI IN0008 U-233 1986-01-01 OPERATIONAL Department of Indira Gandhi 30 UAl alloy (U-233 Plate Al alloy 100% (fissile 20 wt% U in [1, 124]
FUELLED Atomic Energy Centre for Atomic fuel) U-233) fuel alloy
Research
India Critical IN0010 TANK 2001-07-01 OPERATIONAL Department of Bhabha Atomic 0.1 NU metal, (Th-Pu) Pellets in rod NU BARC [125]
Facility Atomic Energy Research Centre MOX, (Th-U233)
for AHWR MOX, N UO2
and
PHWR
India High Flux IN0011 POOL PLANNED Bhabha Atomic BARC 30000 U3Si2-Al dispersion 19.75% [126]
RR Research Visakhapatnam fuel
Centre (BARC)
India Thermal IN0012 POOL PLANNED Bhabha Atomic BARC 125000 U metal NU and 1.25% [126]
RR Research Visakhapatnam
Centre
India Apsara-U IN0013 POOL 2018-09-10 OPERATIONAL Bhabha Atomic Bhabha Atomic 2000 1) UAl alloy Plate Al alloy 1) HEU UK [127, 128]
Research Research Centre 2) U3Si2-Al 2) 17%
Centre
Indonesia Bandung ID0001 TRIGA 1964-10-19 Operational National Center for Applied 2000 U-ZrHx (TRIGA® Rod Stainless Steel 19.75% 8.5 and 12 GA [1, 129]
Mark II Nuclear Energy Nuclear Science fuel) wt%
Agency of and Technology
Indonesia
BATAN
Indonesia KARTINI- ID0002 TRIGA 1975-04-01 OPERATIONAL National PSTA-BATAN 100 U-ZrHx TRIGA® Disc stainless steel HALEU 5.99 gU/cc General [1, 129]
PSTA MARK II Nuclear Energy fuel Atomics
Agency (BATAN)
Indonesia RSG-GAS ID0003 POOL, 1983-01-01 OPERATIONAL Badan Tenaga Pusat Reaktor 30000 1) U3O8-Al Plate MTR type AlMg2 1) HEU [129-131]
MTR Nuklir Nasional, Serba Guna 2) U3Si2-Al 2) 19.75%
National (PRSG)
Nuclear Energy
Agency
Iran, Tehran IR0001 POOL 1960-10-10 OPERATIONAL Atomic Energy Nuclear Science 5000 1) UAl alloy Plate MTR type Al alloy 1) 93% LEU fuel by [4, 132,
Islamic Research Organization of and Technology 2) U3O8-Al 2) HALEU CNEA 133]
Republic Reactor Iran (AEOI) Research Institute
of (TRR) (NSTRI)
Iran, ENTC IR0004 CRIT 1991-01-01 OPERATIONAL ESFAHAN ESFAHAN 0.1 U metal NU CNNC, China [134, 135]
Islamic HWZPR ASSEMBL NUCLEAR NUCLEAR
Republic Y TECHNOLOGY TECHNOLOGY
of CENTRE CENTRE
Iran, ENTC IR0005 MNSR 1991-01-01 OPERATIONAL ESFAHAN ESFAHAN 30 UAl alloy slug Al alloy 90% CNNC, China [1, 56, 134]
Islamic MNSR NUCLEAR NUCLEAR
Republic TECHNOLOGY TECHNOLOGY
of CENTRE CENTRE
Israel IRR-1 IL0001 POOL 1958-01-01 OPERATIONAL ISRAEL ATOMIC SOREQ NUCLEAR 5000 UAlx-Al dispersion Plate MTR type Al 93% [136, 137]
ENERGY RESEARCH
COMMISSION CENTRE
Israel IRR-2 IL0002 HEAVY OPERATIONAL ISRAEL ATOMIC 26000 NU [137, 138]
WATER ENERGY
COMMISSION
Italy LENA, IT0005 TRIGA 1964-09-01 OPERATIONAL UNIVERSITA DI LABORATORIO 250 U-ZrHx TRIGA® Disc stainless steel HALEU 8.5 wt% U General [1, 139]
TRIGA II MARK II PAVIA ENERGIA fuel Atomics
PAVIA NUCLEARE
APPLICATATA
Italy TRIGA RC- IT0006 TRIGA 1959-01-01 OPERATIONAL ENEA CNEN Casaccia 1000 U-ZrHx TRIGA® Disc stainless steel HALEU 8.5 wt% U TRIGA® [140]
1 MARK II Research Centre fuel International
(CERCA,
Romans)

Research & Test Reactor Fuels | 65 Appendix B

 IAEA Reactor Construction Power, Thermal,
Country Name Status Owner Operator
Code Type Date Steady (kW) Fuel Type Geometry Cladding Enrichment U-density Fuel Fabricator References
[1] [1] [1] [1] [1]
[1] [1] [1] [1]
Italy RSV IT0008 FAST 1964-01-01 OPERATIONAL ENEA CNEN Casaccia 5 U1.5Mo Cylindrical block stainless steel 93% 18.5 gU/cc [140]
TAPIRO SOURCE Research Centre
Italy AGN-201 IT0010 HOMOG 1959-01-01 OPERATIONAL University of Department of 0.02 UO2 -polyethylene Disc Graphite LEU (~-20%) AEROJET [1]
Costanza (S) Palermo Nuclear dispersion fuel GENERAL
Engineering NUCLEAR, USA
Jamaica UWI CNS JM0001 SLOWPO 1982-01-01 OPERATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF INTERNATIONAL 20 1) UAl alloy cylindrical slug 1) Al alloy 1) 93% AECL [1, 141]
SLOWPO KE THE WEST CENTRE FOR 2) UO2 (pellet) 2) Zircaloy-4 2) HALEU
KE INDIES ENVIRONMENTAL
& NUCLEAR
SCIENCES
Japan UTR JP0003 ARGONAU 1960-11-01 OPERATIONAL Kinki University Atomic Energy 0.001 UAl alloy Plate Al 90% Sylcor, USA [1, 142,
KINKI T Research Institute 143]
Japan JRR-3M JP0008 POOL 1985-08-02 TEMPORARY Japan Atomic Tokai Nuclear 20000 1) UAlx-Al Plate Aluminum Alloy 1) LEU 1) 2.2 gU/cc CERCA [1, 144,
SHUTDOWN Energy Agency Science Research 2) U3Si2-Al 2) LEU 2) 4.8 gU/cc 145]
Institute
Japan KUR JP0011 TANK 1961-12-01 OPERATIONAL Kyoto University Research Reactor 5000 1) UAl alloy curved plate Al alloy 1) 93% 1) 0.57 CERCA [146]
Institute, Kyoto 2) U3Si2-Al 2) HALEU gU/cc
University 2) 3.2 gU/cc
Japan KUCA JP0018 CRIT 1973-06-02 OPERATIONAL Kyoto University Research Reactor 0.1 wet core: UAl alloy wet core: Plate wet core: Al 93% for both [142]
ASSEMBL Institute dry core: UAl alloy dry core: coupon dry core: paint cores
Y
Japan NSRR JP0019 TRIGA 1973-06-01 TEMPORARY Japan Atomic Tokai Research 300 U-ZrHx (TRIGA® rod stainless steel HALEU 7.1 gU/cc GA [1, 147]
ACPR SHUTDOWN Energy Establishment fuel) 304
Research
Institute
Japan JOYO JP0020 FAST, Na 1970-07-25 TEMPORARY Japan Atomic Oarai Research 140000 MOX (Inner 23wt% rod 18% [148-150]
Cooled SHUTDOWN Energy Agency and Development Pu, Outer 30wt%
Center Pu)
Japan HTTR JP0023 HIGH 1991-03-15 TEMPORARY Japan Atomic Department of 30000 UO2 (TRISO) rod graphite 3-10% Nuclear Fuel [151, 152]
TEMP SHUTDOWN Energy Agency HTTR Project (average 6%) Industries
GAS
Japan STACY JP0024 HOMOG 1989-06-01 TEMPORARY Japan Atomic JAEA, Nuclear 0.2 Uranyl Nitrate liquid stainless steel 4, 6, and 10% [153-155]
SHUTDOWN Energy Agency Science Research 304
(JAEA) Institute
Jordan JSA - JO0001 SUBCRIT 2009-03-01 OPERATIONAL Jordan Atomic Jordan Atomic 0 UO2 PWR type fuel Pellets in rod Zircaloy-4 3.40% [156, 157]
Jordan Energy Energy
Subcritica Commission Commission
l (JAEC)/Univ. of (JAEC)/Univ. of
Assembly Scie.&Techn. Scie.&Techn.
Jordan JRTR JO0002 TANK IN 2013-08-17 OPERATIONAL Jordan Atomic Jordan Atomic 5000 U3Si2-Al Plate Al alloy HALEU 4.8 gU/cc CERCA [156]
POOL Energy Energy
Commission Commission
(JAEC) (JAEC)
Kazakhsta WWR-K KZ0001 POOL 1961-01-01 OPERATIONAL Ministry of Institute of 6000 UO2 -Al dispersion Hexagonal tube Al alloy 1) 36% 1) 1.3 gU/cc TVEL [158]
n Almaty Energy of the Nuclear Physics with extruded with 2) HALEU (HEU)
Republic of (INP, RK) Al cladding (2016) 2) 2.8 gU/cc
Kazakhstan (LEU)

Kazakhsta IGR KZ0002 GRAPHIT 1958-05-13 OPERATIONAL National Institute of Atomic 0 Uranyl-nitrate 90% [159]
n E, PULSE Nuclear Center Energy (IAE) infiltrated in
of Kazakhstan graphite
(NNC RK)
Kazakhsta IVG.1M KZ0003 PWR 1968-01-01 OPERATIONAL National Institute of Atomic 35000 1) UZr Alloy Two-bladed spiral Zr-Nb alloy 1) 90% LUCH [159-162]
n Nuclear Center Energy (IAE) NNC 2) uranium rod 2) HALEU
of Kazakhstan RK filaments in (2022)
(NNC RK) zirconium matrix

Research & Test Reactor Fuels | 66 Appendix B

 IAEA Reactor Construction Power, Thermal,
Country Name Status Owner Operator
Code Type Date Steady (kW) Fuel Type Geometry Cladding Enrichment U-density Fuel Fabricator References
[1] [1] [1] [1] [1]
[1] [1] [1] [1]
Kazakhsta WWR-K KZ0004 CRIT 1972-01-01 Operational Kazakhstan Institute of 0.1 UO2-Al Hexagonal Tubes Aluminum 1) 36 1) 1.3 gU/cc [163-165]
n CF ASSEMBL Atomic Energy Nuclear Physics 2) 19.7 2) 2.8 gU/cc
Y Committee
Korea, AGN- KR0003 HOMOG 1980-10-01 OPERATIONAL KYUNG HEE Reactor Research 0.01 UO2 -polyethylene Disc Graphite HALEU 0.28 gU/cc AEROJET [1]
Republic 201K (S) UNIVERSITY and Education GENERAL
of Center NUCLEONICS
Korea, HANARO KR0004 POOL 1987-06-01 OPERATIONAL KOREA ATOMIC KOREA ATOMIC 30000 U3Si-Al dispersion Pin Al alloy (AA HALEU 3.15 gU/cc KAERI [166]
Republic ENERGY ENERGY 1060)
of RESEARCH RESEARCH
INSTITUTE INSTITUTE
Korea, KJRR KR005 POOL PLANNED Korea Atomic Korea Atomic 15000 U7Mo Plate Al alloy (AA HALEU 6.5 gU/cc KAERI
Republic Energy Energy Research 6061) (plates 1 and
of Research Institute 21)
Institute 8 gU/cc
(Plates 2-20)
Libya IRT-1 LY0001 POOL, IRT 1980-10-10 TEMPORARY TAJOURA TAJOURA 10000 1) UAl alloy Plate Al 1) 80% TVEL Russia [167]
SHUTDOWN NUCLEAR NUCLEAR 2) UO2 -Al 2) HALEU
RESEARCH RESEARCH
CENTER CENTER
Libya TNRC LY0002 CRIT OPERATIONAL TAJOURA TAJOURA 0.1 1) UAl alloy Plate Al 1) 80% TVEL [167, 168]
Critical ASSEMBL NUCLEAR NUCLEAR 2) UO2 -Al 2) HALEU
Facility Y RESEARCH RESEARCH
CENTER CENTER
Malaysia TRIGA MY0001 TRIGA 1981-11-01 OPERATIONAL Government of Malaysian Nuclear 1000 U-ZrHx disc SS tube HALEU The core is GA [169]
Puspati MARK II Malaysia Agency mixed with
(RTP) 8.5, 12, 20
wt%U
Mexico TRIGA MX0001 TRIGA 1964-05-01 OPERATIONAL Instituto Instituto Nacional 1000 U-ZrHx disc SS tube 1) LEU 20% 1) 8.5 wt%U TRIGA® [2, 170,
Mark III MARK III Nacional de de Investigaciones 2) HEU 70% 2) 8.5 wt% U International 171]
Investigaciones Nucleares 3) LEU 20% 3) 30 wt% U (CERCA,
Nucleares Romans)
Mexico Nuclear MX0004 SUBCRIT 1968-01-01 OPERATIONAL Instituto Instituto 0 U metal annular rings NU [172]
Chicago Politecnico Politecnico
Mod Nacional Nacional
9000
Morocco MA-R1 MA0001 TRIGA 2004-03-01 OPERATIONAL CNESTEN CNESTEN 2000 U-ZrHx (TRIGA® Disc Stainless steel HALEU 8.5 wt% CERCA [1, 173]
MARK II fuel)
Netherlan HOR NL0002 POOL 1959-01-01 TEMPORARY Delft University Interfaculty 2300 1) NUKEM [174-176]
1) 0.57
ds SHUTDOWN of Technology Reactor Inst., 1) UAlx-Al 1) 93% 2) CERCA
MTR plate-type Al gU/cc
Delft University of 2) U3Si2-Al 2) HALEU
2) 4.3 gU/cc
Technology
Netherlan HFR NL0004 TANK IN 1957-08-01 OPERATIONAL European Nuclear Research 45000 1) UAlx-Al MTR plate-type Al alloy 1) 93% LEU fuel 4.8 CERCA [177-179]
ds POOL Commission and Consultancy 2) U3Si2-Al 2) HALEU gU/cc
(EU) Group (NRG)
Netherlan PALLAS NL006 PLANNED Foundation Nuclear Research 30-80000
ds Preparation and Consultancy
PALLAS Reactor Group (NRG)
Nigeria NIRR-1 NG0001 MNSR 1999-04-12 OPERATIONAL Nigeria Atomic Centre for Energy 30 1) UAl alloy Pin 1) Al 1) 90% LEU fuel CNNC, China [56, 180-
Energy Research and 2) UO2 pellet 2) Zircaloy-4 2) 13% density 9.35 182]
Commission Training (CERT) gU/cc

Research & Test Reactor Fuels | 67 Appendix B

 IAEA Reactor Construction Power, Thermal,
Country Name Status Owner Operator
Code Type Date Steady (kW) Fuel Type Geometry Cladding Enrichment U-density Fuel Fabricator References
[1] [1] [1] [1] [1]
[1] [1] [1] [1]
Nigeria Multipurp NG0002 POOL PLANNED Nigeria Atomic Nuclear 10000 LEU TVEL? [183, 184]
ose Energy Technology Centre (agreement
Research Commission signed with
Reactor Russia for
development)
Pakistan PARR-1 PK0001 POOL 1963-05-01 OPERATIONAL Pakistan Atomic Pakistan Institute 10000 1) UAl alloy Plate Al alloy 1) 93% LEU fuel U- PAEC [185, 186]
Energy of Nuclear 2) U3Si2-Al 2) HALEU loading 3.32
Commission Science & gU/cc
Technology
Pakistan PARR-2 PK0002 MNSR 1988-01-01 OPERATIONAL Pakistan Atomic Pakistan Institute 30 1) UAl alloy 1) slug 1) Al alloy 1) 90% LEU 8.6 CNNC [55, 56]
Energy of Nuclear 2) UO2 pellet 2) Pellet 2) Zircaloy-4 2) 12% gU/cc China
Commission Science &
Technology
Peru RP-0 PE0001 CRIT 1977-04-11 OPERATIONAL INSTITUTO INSTITUTO 0.001 U3O8-Al dispersion Plate Al alloy HALEU 2.3 gU/cc CNEA [1, 5]
ASSEMBL PERUANO DE PERUANO DE
Y ENERGIA ENERGIA
NUCLEAR NUCLEAR
Peru RP-10 PE0002 POOL 1980-10-10 OPERATIONAL INSTITUTO INSTITUTO 10000 1) U3O8-Al MTR plate-type AlMg1 HALEU 2.3 gU/cc NUKEM to [1, 2, 187,
PERUANO DE PERUANO DE 2) U3Si2-Al CERCA 188]
ENERGIA ENERGIA
NUCLEAR NUCLEAR
Philippines SAFER PH0001 Subcritica UNDER Re-used TRIGA® Rod Incoloy 800 19.7% 20 wt% GA [189]
(new l CONSTRUCTI fuel from PRR-1
reactor, Assembly ON (U-ZrHx)
same
IAEA
number)
Poland MARIA PL0004 POOL 1969-01-01 OPERATIONAL INSTITUTE OF INSTITUTE OF 30000 1) UAl alloy concentric tubes Al 1) 80% LEU fuel U- LEU fuel [190-193]
ATOMIC ATOMIC ENERGY 2) UO2-Al 2) 36% loading 4.8 supplier is
ENERGY 3) U3Si2-Al 3)HALEU CERCA
Romania TRIGA II RO0002 TRIGA 1974-03-01 OPERATIONAL Technologies for Institute for 14000 U-ZrHx (TRIGA® Disc Incoloy-800 1) HEU 1) 10wt% 1) GA [1, 194]
Pitesti - DUAL Nuclear Energy Nuclear Research, fuel) tube 2) HALEU 2) 35wt% 2) CERCA
SS Core CORE State Owned Pitesti
Company
(RATEN)
Romania TRIGA II RO0004 TRIGA 1974-03-01 OPERATIONAL Technologies for Institute for 500 U-ZrHx (TRIGA® Disc Stainless steel HALEU 0.723 gU/cc GA [1, 194]
Pitesti - DUAL Nuclear Energy Nuclear Research, fuel)
Pulsed CORE State Owned Pitesti
Company
(RATEN)
Russian OR-M RU0002 TANK 1950-10-10 OPERATIONAL Federal Agency Kurchatov 300 UO2 -Al dispersion Tubes Al 90% TVEL [1, 195]
Federation WWR on Science and Institute of Atomic
Innovation Energy
Russian IR-8 RU0004 POOL, IRT 1979-01-01 OPERATIONAL Federal Agency National Research 8000 UO2 -Al dispersion Square tube Al alloy 90% TVEL [196]
Federation on Science and Centre, Kurchatov
Innovation Institute
Russian IVV-2M RU0010 POOL 1964-01-01 OPERATIONAL State Atomic JSC "Institute of 15000 UO2 -Al dispersion Hexagonal tube Al alloy 90% TVEL [197-199]
Federation Energy Reactor Materials" with extruded with
Corporation Al cladding
"Rosatom"
Russian MIR.M1 RU0013 POOL/CH 1962-01-01 OPERATIONAL State JSC "SSC RIAR" 100000 UO2 -Al dispersion Four annular Al alloy 90% TVEL [200]
Federation ANNELS Corporation concentric
"ROSATOM" elements in rod
assembly

Research & Test Reactor Fuels | 68 Appendix B

 IAEA Reactor Construction Power, Thermal,
Country Name Status Owner Operator
Code Type Date Steady (kW) Fuel Type Geometry Cladding Enrichment U-density Fuel Fabricator References
[1] [1] [1] [1] [1]
[1] [1] [1] [1]
Russian IRT-T RU0014 POOL, IRT 1961-01-01 OPERATIONAL Russian Fed. Tomsk Polytechnic 6000 UO2 -Al dispersion Square tube Al alloy 90% TVEL [196, 201,
Federation Ministry of University 202]
Education and
Science
Russian Gidra RU0017 HOMOG 1971-01-01 OPERATIONAL Federal Agency Russian Research 10 Aqueous solution Liquid Stainless steel 90% [203]
Federation (Hydra) (L) on Science and Centre, Kurchatov of UO2 -SO4 vessel
Innovation Institute

Russian Argus RU0018 HOMOG 1980-10-01 OPERATIONAL Federal Agency Russian Research 20 Aqueous solution Liquid Stainless steel 1) 90% [204, 205]
Federation AHR (L) on Science and Centre, Kurchatov of UO2-SO4 vessel 2) HALEU
Innovation Institute

Russian WWR-TS RU0019 TANK 1957-01-01 OPERATIONAL State Karpov Institute of 15000 UO2 -Al dispersion Hexagonal tube Al alloy 36% 1.2 gU/cc TVEL [196, 198,
Federation WWR Corporation Physical with extruded with 206]
"ROSATOM" Chemistry Al cladding

Russian RBT-10/2 RU0020 POOL 1983-06-01 OPERATIONAL Ministry of Research Institute 7000 UO2 -(Cu-Be) Cruciform shape Stainless steel 50-85% [196, 207]
Federation Atomic Energy of Atomic matrix dispersion rod (crosswise)
of Russian Reactors
Federation
Russian RBT-6 RU0022 POOL 1970-10-10 OPERATIONAL Ministry of Research Institute 6000 UO2 -(Cu-Be) Cruciform shape Stainless steel 63% 2.3 gU/cc [1, 196,
Federation Atomic Energy of Atomic matrix dispersion rod (crosswise) 207]
of Russian Reactors
Federation
Russian SM-3 RU0024 PRESS. 1958-01-01 TEMPORARY State JSC SSC Research 100000 UO2 -(Cu-Be) Cruciform shape Stainless steel 90% [196]
Federation VESSEL SHUTDOWN Corporation Institute of Atomic matrix dispersion rod (crosswise)
"ROSATOM" Reactors

Russian BOR-60 RU0027 FAST 1965-07-01 OPERATIONAL State JSC SSC Research 60000 UO2 or UO2 +PuO2 Pin FMS 40 - 90% [208-210]
Federation BREEDER Corporation Institute of Atomic
"ROSATOM" Reactors

Russian IR-50 RU0029 POOL 1959-01-01 TEMPORARY JSC "NIKIET" JSC "NIKIET" 50 EK-10 UO2 -Mg Rod Al 10% [118, 211]
Federation SHUTDOWN

Russian BARS-5 RU0032 FAST 1981-01-01 OPERATIONAL Russian Federal Russian Federal 10 U10Mo alloy Tube Al 90% [197, 212]
Federation (FNRS) BURST Nuclear Centre Nuclear Centre
VNIITF VNIITF

Russian IGRIK, RU0033 HOMOG 1972-01-01 OPERATIONAL Russian Federal Russian Federal 30 UO2 -SO4 solution Liquid Stainless steel 90% [197]
Federation Pulsed Nuclear Centre Nuclear Centre vessel
Homog VNIITF VNIITF

Russian YAGUAR RU0034 HOMOG 1982-06-05 OPERATIONAL Russian Federal Russian Federal 4 UO2 -SO4 solution Liquid Stainless steel 90% [197]
Federation (NHUAR) PUL Nuclear Centre Nuclear Centre vessel
VNIITF VNIITF

Russian FBR-L RU0035 FAST 1973-09-11 OPERATIONAL Russian Federal Russian Federal 5 UMo alloy 90% [197]
Federation Fast BURST Nuclear Centre Nuclear Centre
Burst- VNIITF VNIITF
Laser

Research & Test Reactor Fuels | 69 Appendix B

 IAEA Reactor Construction Power, Thermal,
Country Name Status Owner Operator
Code Type Date Steady (kW) Fuel Type Geometry Cladding Enrichment U-density Fuel Fabricator References
[1] [1] [1] [1] [1]
[1] [1] [1] [1]
Russian IBR-2M RU0036 FAST, 1969-01-01 OPERATIONAL Ministry of Joint Institute for 2000 PuO2 Cylindrical pellet Steel 100% [213]
Federation PULSED Science and Nuclear Research with or without
Education center hole

Russian BARS-6 RU0040 PROMPT 1992-01-01 OPERATIONAL Ministry of Institute of 10 U10Mo alloy Tube Al 90% B157,
Federation BURST Atomic Energy Physics and Power B158[197,
of Russian Engineering 212]
Federation
Russian VK-50 RU0043 BWR- 1956-01-01 OPERATIONAL State JSC SSC Research 200000 UO2 Pellets in rod Zr 4% 9.7 gU/cc TVEL [1, 120,
Federation PROTOTY Corporation Institute of Atomic 121, 214,
PE "ROSATOM" Reactors 215]

Russian BARS-4 RU0046 PROMPT 1979-01-01 OPERATIONAL State Research Institute 10 U10Mo alloy Tube Al 90% B157,
Federation BURST Corporation of Scientific B158[197,
Rosatom Instruments NIIP 212]

Russian IRV-2M RU0048 POOL 1974-01-01 UNDER State Atomic Research Institute 4000 IRT-2M (UO2 -Al Rectangular aluminum 36% [1, 203,
Federation CONSTRUCTI Energy of Instruments dispersion) concentric tubes 216]
ON Corporation NIIP
"Rosatom"
Russian U-3 RU0050 POOL 1959-01-01 OPERATIONAL Department of Krylov 50 UO2 -Mg Rod Al 10% B159[217]
Federation Industry and Shipbuilding dispersion
Commerce of Research Institute
the RF
Russian BIGR RU052 FAST, 1976-02-01 OPERATIONAL State Atomic All Russian 500 UO2 -graphite Rectangular ring 90% [218]
Federation PULSED Energy Research Inst. of compact
Corporation Exp. Physics
"Rosatom" VNIIEF
Russian VIR-2M RU084 HOMOG 1979-01-01 OPERATIONAL State All Russian 25 UO2 -SO4 solution Liquid 90% 69.7 g/l [218]
Federation PUL Corporation Research Inst. of
Rosatom Exp. Physics
VNIIEF
Russian MBIR RU102 FAST, 2015-09-01 UNDER JSC Research JSC Research 150000 MOX Hexagonal Tubes [219, 220]
Federation POWER CONSTRUCTI Institute of Institute of Atomic
ON Atomic Reactors Reactors

Russian GIR-2 RU103 FAST, 1984-01-01 OPERATIONAL State All Russian 1 U9Mo Hemisphere Stainless steel 36 - 90% [218]
Federation PULSED Corporation Research Inst. of membrane
Rosatom Exp. Physics

Russian IKAR-S RU104 CRIT 2004-10-04 OPERATIONAL State Atomic All Russian 0.1 UAl (2.5wt% U) Plate E-125 alloy (Zr- 90% [218]
Federation GRAPHIT Energy Research Inst. of Nb alloy)
E Corporation Exp. Physics
"Rosatom" VNIIEF
Russian UVPSh RU110 SUBCRIT 1964-03-18 OPERATIONAL Ministry of Moscow U metal (37-mm D Rod Al alloy NU 19.1 gU/cc [221]
Federation Education and Engineering x 102-mm L slug)
Science of the Physics Institute
Russian MEPhI
Federation
Russian UG RU111 SUBCRIT 1955-04-20 OPERATIONAL Ministry of Moscow U metal (37-mm D Rod Al alloy NU 19.1 gU/cc [221]
Federation Subcritica Education and Engineering x 102-mm L slug)
l Science of the Physics Institute
Russian MEPhI
Federation
Research & Test Reactor Fuels | 70 Appendix B
 IAEA Reactor Construction Power, Thermal,
Country Name Status Owner Operator
Code Type Date Steady (kW) Fuel Type Geometry Cladding Enrichment U-density Fuel Fabricator References
[1] [1] [1] [1] [1]
[1] [1] [1] [1]
Russian UV RU114 SUBCRIT 1980-12-04 OPERATIONAL Ministry of NRU Moscow U metal (37-mm D Rod Al alloy NU 19.1 gU/cc [221]
Federation Education and Power Engineering x 102-mm L slug)
Science of the Institute MEPI
Russian
Federation
Russian BR-1M RU0122 FAST, OPERATIONAL State All Russian 5 U10Mo alloy Rectangular ring 90% [218]
Federation PULSED Corporation Research Inst. of
Rosatom Exp. Physics
VNIIEF
Russian BR-K1 RU0123 FAST, 1986-01-01 OPERATIONAL State All Russian 10 U-9Mo alloy Rectangular ring 36% [218]
Federation PULSED Corporation Research Inst. of
Rosatom Exp. Physics
VNIIEF
Russian PIK RU0124 TANK 1976-01-01 UNDER National Petersburg 100000 UO2 -(Cu-Be) Cruciform rod Stainless steel 90% [222, 223]
Federation CONSTRUCTI Research Nuclear Physics matrix dispersion (crosswise)
ON Center Institute (PNPI)
"Kurchatov
Institute"
Serbia RB RS0003 HEAVY 1957-01-01 TEMPORARY INSTITUTE OF INSTITUTE OF 0 1) uranium TVR-S (tube) Aluminum 1) NU Russia (TVEL) [224-226]
WATER SHUTDOWN NUCLEAR NUCLEAR 2)uranium 2) 2%
SCIENCES SCIENCES 3) UO2-Al 3) 80%
"VINCA" "VINCA"/Centre for
NT&R 2 and 3 operated
concurrently
Saudi LPRR SA001 POOL UNDER King Abdulaziz King Abdulaziz 30 UO2 pellets pellets in a rod Zircaloy-4 2.1% INVAP [227, 228]
Arabia CONSTRUCTI City for Science City for Science
ON and Technology and Technology
Syrian SRR-1 SY0001 MNSR 1991-01-01 OPERATIONAL Atomic Energy Atomic Energy 30 UAl alloy slug cylindrical Al alloy 90% 0.92 gU/cc CNNC [1, 44, 229]
Arab Commission of Commission of active length 23 China
Republic Syria (AECS) Syria (AECS) cm

Slovenia TRIGA- SI0001 TRIGA 1964-01-01 OPERATIONAL J. Stefan J. STEFAN 250 U-ZrHx Disc 1) aluminum 1)HALEU 1,2,3) 8.5 GA [1, 230]
MARK II MARK II Institute INSTITUTE, 2-4) SS304 2)HALEU wt%
LJUBLJAN LJUBLJANA 3)70% 4) 12wt%
A 4)HALEU
Thailand TRR- TH0001 TRIGA 1961-01-01 OPERATIONAL Thailand Thailand Institute 1300 U-ZrHx TRIGA® Disc Stainless steel HALEU 1) 8.5 wt% GA [231]
1/M1 MARK III Institute of of Nuclear fuel 2) 20 wt%
Nuclear Technology
Technology
Thailand SUT TH003 MNSR PLANNED Suranaree Boron Neutron 45
MNSR University of Capture Therapy
Technology Laboratory
Tajikistan Argus-FTI TJ0001 HOMOG 1981-01-01 UNDER Academy of Umarov Physical 50 LEU [232, 233]
(L) CONSTRUCTI Sciences of the and Technical
ON Republic of Institute
Tajikistan
Turkey ITU-TRR TR0003 TRIGA 1975-04-01 OPERATIONAL Istanbul ITU Energy 250 U-ZrHx TRIGA® Disc Stainless steel HALEU GA [1, 234,
MARK II Technical Institute fuel 235]
University
Taiwan, THOR TW0001 TRIGA 1959-12-01 OPERATIONAL National Tsing Nuclear Science 2000 1) UAl alloy 1) Plate 1) Al alloy 1) HEU GA [236, 237]
China CONV Hua University and Technology
Development 2) converted to 2) Disc 2) Stainless 2) HALEU
Centre TRIGA® fuel (U- steel
ZrHx)

Research & Test Reactor Fuels | 71 Appendix B

 IAEA Reactor Construction Power, Thermal,
Country Name Status Owner Operator
Code Type Date Steady (kW) Fuel Type Geometry Cladding Enrichment U-density Fuel Fabricator References
[1] [1] [1] [1] [1]
[1] [1] [1] [1]
Ukraine WWR-M UA0001 TANK 1959-01-01 OPERATIONAL National Institute for 10000 1) WWR-M5 (UAl Three tubes Al alloy 1) 90% 1) 1.2 gU/cc TVEL [1, 238-
Kiev WWR Academy of Nuclear Research alloy) or WWR-M7 2) 36% 2) 1.1gU/cc 242]
Sciences of (UO2-Al dispersion) hexagonal plate 3) 19.75 3) 2.3 gU/cc
Ukraine type surfaced outer
2) WWR-M2 UO2- tube-two inner
Al cylindrical tubes
3) UO2-Al
dispersion
Ukraine SNI, IR- UA0002 POOL, IRT 1964-01-01 OPERATIONAL SEVASTOPOL SEVASTOPOL 200 1) UO2 -Mg Rod Al alloy 1) 10% (EK-10) TVEL [197, 243]
100 UNIV. OF NUCL. UNIV. OF NUCL. dispersion fuel
ENERGY AND ENERGY AND (EK-10 fuel) 2) 36% (S-36)
INDUSTRY INDUSTRY
2) UAl alloy (S-36
fuel)
Ukraine SPh IR- UA0003 CRIT 1974-07-17 OPERATIONAL SEVASTOPOL SEVASTOPOL 0.002 1) UO2 -Mg Rod Al alloy 1) 10% (EK-10) TVEL [197]
100 ASSEMBL UNIV. OF UNIV. OF dispersion fuel
Y NUCLEAR NUCLEAR ENERGY (EK-10 fuel) 2) 36% (S-36)
ENERGY AND AND INDUSTRY
INDUSTRY 2) UAl alloy (S-36
fuel)
Ukraine Multipurp UA0004 POOL PLANNED National Institute for 20000 LEU [244]
ose RR Academy of Nuclear Research
Sciences of
Ukraine
United ARRR US0001 TRIGA 1963-01-01 OPERATIONAL Nuclear Aerotest 250 U-ZrHx Disc Stainless steel HALEU CERCA [245]
States of CONV Labyrinth LLC Operations, Inc
America
United NRAD US0018 TRIGA 1977-10-12 Operational US DOE Idaho National 250 U-ZrHx Rod 304 Stainless 1) 70% 1) 8.5wt% 1) GA [100, 246-
States of MARK II Laboratory Steel 2) 19.75% 2) 30wt% 2) CERCA 249]
America
United TREAT US0019 AIR Operation OPERATIONAL DOE Operated by ANL- 80 U3O8 (or UO2)- square cylinder Zircaloy HEU-93% 0.2 wt% U ANL [250, 251]
States of COOLED started in W until ANL-W Graphite
America Feb 1959 merged to INL dispersion
United Bettis US0035 CRIT OPERATIONAL Westinghouse Bettis Atomic 0.01 UO2 Disc Al 1.30% [252]
States of TRX CA ASSEMBL Electric Power Laboratory
America Y Company
United NTR US0052 Graphite 1957-11-15 Operational General Electric Vallecitos Nuclear 100 UAl Alloy Annular Disc AA1100 93% 0.42 gU/cc METALS & [1, 253,
States of General Company Center CONTROL 254]
America Electric CORP., USA

United NIST US0061 HEAVY 1967-12-7 Operational National National Institute 20000 U3O8-Al dispersion Curved Plates AA6061 93% 3.2 gU/cc BWXT [255, 256]
States of (NBSR) WATER Institute of of Standards and
America Standards and Technology
Technology
United ATR US0070 Pressuriz Operation in Operational DOE Battelle Energy 250000 1) UAlx-Al Curved plate Al 93% 1) EG&G [257]
States of ed vessel 1967 Alliance, LLC 2) U3O8-Al (Idaho)
America 2) BWXT
United ATRC US0071 Pool 1964-05-19 Operational US DOE Bechtel BWXT 5 U3O8-Al dispersion Curved Plate Al 93% [257, 258]
States of Idaho, LLC
America
United IdSU US0094 HOMOG 1967-01-01 Operational Idaho State Idaho State 0.005 UO2-Polyethylene Disc Graphite HALEU 0.28 Aerojet [253, 259]
States of AGN-201 (S) University University dispersion General
America Nucleonics
United KSU US0120 TRIGA 1962-10-16 Operational Kansas State Kansas State 250 U-ZrHx Rod Initially HALEU 0.5 gU/cc GA [260, 261]
States of TRIGA MARK II University University, aluminum,
America MARK II Mech./Nuclear changed to
Eng stainless steel

Research & Test Reactor Fuels | 72 Appendix B

 IAEA Reactor Construction Power, Thermal,
Country Name Status Owner Operator
Code Type Date Steady (kW) Fuel Type Geometry Cladding Enrichment U-density Fuel Fabricator References
[1] [1] [1] [1] [1]
[1] [1] [1] [1]
United MITR-II US0122 TANK 1958-7-21 Operational Massachusetts Massachusetts 6000 UAlx-Al Plate AA6061 93% 2.3 gU/cc BWXT [262]
States of MASS. Insitute of Institute of
America INST. Technology Technology
TECH.
United PULSTAR US0130 POOL, 1972-1-1 Operational North Carolina North Carolina 1000 UO2 Rod Zircaloy 4 and 6 % 9.3 gU/cc Westinghouse [263-265]
States of N.C. PULSTAR State University State University
America STATE
UNIV
United HFIR US0137 TANK 1961-07-01 OPERATIONAL USDOE ORNL- RESEARCH 85000 U3O8-Al dispersion Curved plate Al HEU Y-12 [266]
States of REACTORS BWXT
America DIVISION
United OSTR, US0148 TRIGA 1966-01-01 OPERATIONAL Oregon State Oregon State 1100 U-ZrHx (TRIGA® Disc 304 Stainless 1) 70% 1) 8.5wt% GA [100, 263,
States of Oregon MARK II University University fuel) steel 2) 19.75% 2) 30wt% now CERCA 267-269]
America State Radiation Center 1) HEU FLIP
Univ. 2) HALEU 30/20
United OSURR US0151 POOL 1959-06-01 OPERATIONAL The Ohio State Nuclear Reactor 500 1) UAl alloy Plate Al 1) HEU [270]
States of Ohio University Laboratory 2) U3Si2-Al 2) HALEU
America State dispersion
Univ.
United PSBR US0152 TRIGA 1955-01-01 OPERATIONAL The The Pennsylvania 1000 LEU U-ZrHx Disc Stainless steel HALEU 8.5 wt% GA [263, 271]
States of Penn St. MARK Pennsylvania State University (TRIGA® fuel) U+12wt% U
America Unv. CONV State University mixed core
United PUR-1 US0156 POOL 1961-06-01 OPERATIONAL Purdue Purdue Univ., 1 1) UAl alloy MTR type Plate Al 1) HEU 1) 0.57 [272, 273]
States of Purdue University School of Nuclear 2) U3Si2-Al 2) HALEU gU/cc
America Univ. Engineering dispersion
United RRR US0157 TRIGA 1965-01-01 OPERATIONAL Reed College Reed College 250 U-ZrHx (TRIGA® Disc Stainless steel HALEU 8.5 wt% U GA [274]
States of Reed MARK I fuel) or Aluminum
America College
United RCF US0158 CRIT OPERATIONAL Rensselaer RPI Nuclear 0.1 1) UO2 -SS 1) Plate Stainless steel 1) HEU 2) 4.81 wt% [272, 275-
States of Renssela Facility Polytechnic Engineering dispersion 2) Disc 2) HALEU U 279]
America er Institute Department 2) UO2
Polytechn
ic
United RINSC US0159 POOL 1962-08-27 OPERATIONAL Rhode Island Rhode Island 2000 1) UAl alloy Plate Al 1) HEU B&W [1, 280]
States of Rhode Atomic Energy Atomic Energy 2) U3Si2-Al 2) HALEU
America Island Commission Commission dispersion
NSC
United ACRR US0171 TRIGA 1966-01-01 OPERATIONAL US Department Sandia National 2400 1) U-ZrHx 2) Concentric Stainless steel 1) HALEU 2) 6.9 vol% [281, 282]
States of Annular MODIFIE of Energy Laboratories 2) UO2-BeO disc double annuli disc 2) 35% UO2
America Core RR D of BeO- UO2 disc
United DOW US0180 TRIGA 1967-7-6 Operational Dow Chemical Dow Chemical 300 U-ZrHx Rod Aluminum and HALEU 0.5 gU/cc GA [283-285]
States of TRIGA MARK I Company Company Stainless Steel
America Michigan
Operations
United GSTR US US0182 TRIGA 1967-10-10 OPERATIONAL U.S. U.S. Geological 1000 U-ZrHx (TRIGA® Disc Stainless steel HALEU GA [286]
States of Geologica MARK I Department of Survey fuel)
America l Survey the Interior
United AFRRI US0185 TRIGA 1962-1-1 Operational Uniformed Armed Forces 1000 U-ZrHx Rod Stainless Steel HALEU 0.5 gU/cc GA [287, 288]
States of TRIGA MARK F Services Radiobiology
America University of the Research Institute
Health Sciences
United UC Irvine US0188 TRIGA 1968-03-01 OPERATIONAL University of UC Irvine, Dept of 250 U-ZrHx (TRIGA® Disc Stainless steel HALEU GA [263, 267,
States of TRIGA MARK I California, Irvine Chemistry fuel) 268]
America

Research & Test Reactor Fuels | 73 Appendix B

 IAEA Reactor Construction Power, Thermal,
Country Name Status Owner Operator
Code Type Date Steady (kW) Fuel Type Geometry Cladding Enrichment U-density Fuel Fabricator References
[1] [1] [1] [1] [1]
[1] [1] [1] [1]
United AGN- US0191 HOMOG 1954-01-01 OPERATIONAL Texas A&M Texas A&M 0.005 [253, 263,
States of 201M (S) University Univ./Dept. of AEROJET 289-291]
UO2 -polyethylene
America Texas Nuclear Plate Graphite HALEU 0.28 gU/cc GENERAL
dispersion fuel
A&M Engineering NUCLEONICS
Univ.
United NSCR US0192 TRIGA 1959-01-01 OPERATIONAL Texas A&M Nuclear Science 1000 1) UAl alloy [292-296]
States of Texas CONV University Center, Texas 2) standard 1) 93%
2 &3) FLIP
America A&M System A&M University TRIGA®
Univ. 1) Aluminum 2- (70%),
3) mixed standard 1) Plate 2-4) 8.5wt% 2-4) GA
5) stainless standard
and FLIP 2-5) Disc 5) 30wt% 5) CERCA
steel 304 (HALEU)
4) FLIP
4) 70%
5) LEU (on original
5) HALEU
info sheet)
United UFTR US0196 ARGONAU 1958-01-01 OPERATIONAL University of Univ. of Florida 100 UAl alloy Plate 1) Al 1) 90% 1) 0.45 [1, 143,
States of Univ. T Florida Dept. of Material converted to 2) AA6061 2) 19.75% gU/cc 297, 298]
America Florida Sciences & U3Si2-Al dispersion
Engineering
United AGN-201 US0201 HOMOG 1966-07-01 OPERATIONAL University of University of New 0.005 UO2 -Polyethylene Disc Graphite HALEU AEROJET [263, 289,
States of Univ. New (S) New Mexico Mexico, Chemical dispersion fuel GENERAL 290, 299]
America Mexico & Nuclear Eng. NUCLEONICS
United UMLR US0201 POOL 1966-01-01 OPERATIONAL University of UML Radiation 1000 1) U3O8-Al Plate Al 1) 93% BWXT [300, 301]
States of Univ. Massachusetts Laboratory dispersion 2) 19.75%
America Mass. Lowell 2) U3Si2-Al
Lowell
United MUTR US0202 TRIGA 1960-03-01 OPERATIONAL University of Univ. Maryland, 250 1) HEU UAl alloy 1) Plate 1) Aluminum 1) HEU 2) 8.5 wt% GA [263, 267,
States of Univ. MODIFIE Maryland Dept. of Materials 2) TRIGA®-type 2) Disc 2) Stainless 2) HALEU 268, 302]
America Maryland D & Nuclear Eng. fuel (U-ZrHx) steel

United MURR US0204 TANK IN 1963-01-01 OPERATIONAL University of Research Reactor 10000 UAlx-Al dispersion Curved plate Al-6061 93% BWXT [303]
States of Univ. POOL Missouri Center
America Missouri-
Columbia
United MSTR US0205 POOL, 1951-04-01 OPERATIONAL Missouri MUST Nuclear 200 1) UAl alloy Plate Al 1) HEU 1) 0.57 BWXT [304]
States of Missouri MTR University of Reactor Facility 2) U3Si2-Al 2) HALEU gU/cc (HEU)
America Univ. of Science & dispersion fuel
Science & Technology
Tech.
United WSUR US0206 TRIGA 1960-10-10 OPERATIONAL Washington WSU Nuclear 1000 U-ZrHx TRIGA® Disc Stainless steel 1) HALEU 1) 8.5 wt% U GA [305]
States of Washingt CONV State University Science Center fuel 2) 70% 2) 8.5 wt% U
America on State 3) HALEU 3) 30 wt% U
Univ.
United UUTR US0211 TRIGA 1972-07-11 OPERATIONAL University of Utah Nuclear 100 U-ZrHx TRIGA® Disc Stainless steel 1) 70% and 1) 8.5 wt% U GA then CERCA [100, 306,
States of TRIGA MARK I Utah Engineering fuel HALEU 2) 30 nd 8.5 307]
America Univ. Program 2) HALEU wt%U
Utah
United UWNR US0215 TRIGA 1959-01-01 OPERATIONAL University of Max Carbon 1000 U-ZrHx TRIGA® fuel meat annulus 304 Stainless 1) 20% 1) 8.5 wt% CERCA [303, 307,
States of Univ. CONV Wisconsin- Radiation Science fuel with Zr core steel 2) 70% 2) 8.5 wt% 308]
America Wisconsi Madison Center 3. HALEU 3) 30wt%
n
United TRIGA II US0221 TRIGA 1986-01-10 OPERATIONAL University of Nuclear 1100 U-ZrHx TRIGA® Disc Stainless steel HALEU GA [309]
States of Univ. MARK II Texas at Austin Engineering fuel
America Texas Teaching
Laboratory

Research & Test Reactor Fuels | 74 Appendix B

 IAEA Reactor Construction Power, Thermal,
Country Name Status Owner Operator
Code Type Date Steady (kW) Fuel Type Geometry Cladding Enrichment U-density Fuel Fabricator References
[1] [1] [1] [1] [1]
[1] [1] [1] [1]
United UC US0222 TRIGA 1987-09-15 OPERATIONAL University of McClellan Nuclear 2000 U-ZrHx TRIGA® Disc Stainless steel HALEU GA [235]
States of Davis/Mc MARK II California, Davis Research Center fuel
America Clellan
TRIGA
United MARF US0238 PRESSUR 1976-01-01 OPERATIONAL Knolls Atomic Bechtel Marine U15Zr Plate Zircaloy HEU (93% or GE [310-312]
States of S7G IZED Power Propulsion Corp. higher)
America Laboratory
United S8G US0239 PWR 1979-01-01 OPERATIONAL Knolls Atomic Bechtel Marine U15Zr Plate Zircaloy HEU (93% or GE [310-313]
States of Submarin PROPULS Power Propulsion Co. higher)
America e ION Laboratory
Prototype
United TACS US0272 CRIT 1979-08-30 OPERATIONAL United States Nevada National Uranium metal Hemi-shell Ni plated 93% [314, 315]
States of Training ASSEMBL Department of Security Site
America Assembly Y Energy
Crit
Safety
United MTS-626 US0288 PWR 1961-12-28 OPERATIONAL United States Nuclear Power 78000 U15Zr alloy Plate Zr 97% Westinghouse [310, 316]
States of PROPULS Navy Training Unit
America ION Charleston
United MTS-635 US0289 PWR 1963-12-03 OPERATIONAL United States Nuclear Power 78000 U15Zr alloy Plate Zr 97% Westinghouse [310]
States of PROPULS Navy Training Unit
America ION Charleston
United Sandia US0290 CRIT 1989-01-01 OPERATIONAL National Sandia National 0.001 UC Pin type (pellets) HEU [317]
States of SPR CX ASSEMBL Technology and Laboratories
America Y Engineering
Solutions of
Sandia
United White US0296 FAST 1964-07-01 OPERATIONAL US Department White Sands Test 10000 Gamma-stabilized Plate (thin flat disc) Al-coating on HEU (93.4%) [318-320]
States of Sands BURST of Defense Facility U10Mo U-Mo
America Fast
Burst
Reactor
United ISSA US0300 SUBCRITI 2012-01-01 OPERATIONAL US Department Lawrence U3O8-Al dispersion Plate Al HEU B&W [321]
States of Inherently CAL of Energy (DOE) Livermore
America Safe Assembly National
Subcritica Laboratory
l
Assembly
Uzbekistan VVR-SM UZ0001 TANK 1959-9-10 Operational Uzbek Academy Institute of 10000 1) EK-10 UO2-Mg 1) EK-10 (rod) Al Alloy 1) 10 4) 3gU/cc TVEL [1, 322-
TASHKEN of Sciences Nuclear Physics 2) IRT-2M UO2-Al 2) IRT-2M 2) 90 325]
T 3) IRT-3M UO2-Al (concentric tubes) 3) 36
4) IRT-4M UO2-Al 3) IRT-3M 4) 19.82
(concentric tubes)
4) IRT-4M (square
concentric tubes)
Vietnam DALAT VN0001 Pool 1963-2-26 Operational Dalat Nuclear Dalat Nuclear 500 1) U-Al concentric tubes - Al alloy 1) 36% 2.5 gU/cc TVEL [326-328]
Research Research Research Institute 2) UO2-Al outer is hexagonal 2) 19.75%
Reactor Institute
Vietnam Multipurp VN0002 Pool, IRT Planned Ministry of Viet Nam Atomic 10000 UO2-Al concentric Al alloy 19.75 2.8 gU/cc TVEL [329]
ose Science and Energy Institute hexagonal tubes
Research Technology (VINATOM)
Reactor
South SAFARI-1 ZA0001 TANK IN 1961-01-01 OPERATIONAL South African South African 20000 1) UAl alloy Plate Al alloy 1) 93% to 0.57 gU/cc CERCA [330, 331]
Africa POOL Nuclear Energy Nuclear Energy 2) U3Si2-Al 2) HALEU (HEU)
Corporation Corporation
(NECSA) (NECSA)

Research & Test Reactor Fuels | 75 Appendix B

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Research & Test Reactor Fuels | 82 Appendix B

 Appendix C: Research Reactors Converted Under the M3 Program
Reactors that were part of the Materials, Management, and Minimization HEU to LEU conversion program.
M3
Conversion Conversion IAEA Enrichment Fuel
Country Name Status Owner Operator Fuel Type Geometry Cladding U-density References
Program Year Code (wt% U235) Fabricator
Index
1 1978 TW0001 Taiwan, THOR Operational National Tsing Nuclear Science 1) UAl alloy 1) Plate 1) Aluminum 1) HEU 2) GA [1, 2]
China Hua University and Technology 2) TRIGA® fuel 2) Rod Alloy 2) LEU
Development (U-ZrHx) 2) Stainless (HALEU)
Centre Steel
2 1979 FR0014 France Osiris Under French Atomic CEA Saclay 1) UAl Plate Aluminum 1) 93% CERCA [3]
2) 7%
Decommissioning Energy 2) UO2 3) 19.75%
Commission 3) U3Si2-Al
(CEA)
3 1980 AT0002 Austria TRIGA II Operational Vienna Vienna University U-ZrHx Rod Aluminum 1) 70% 8.5 wt%
Vienna University of of Technology/ Alloy or 2) LEU
Technology/ Atominstitut Stainless Steel (HALEU)
Atominstitut
4 1981 BR0001 Brazil IEA-R1 Operational IPEN-CNEN/ IPEN 1)LEU UAl Plate Aluminum LEU (HALEU) 4) 2.3gU/cc 1,2) B&W [4, 5]
SAO PAULO 2)HEU UAl (U3O8-Al), 3) NUKEM
3)LEU UAlx-Al HEU (93%) 5) 3 gU/cc U3Si2- 3)IPEN
4)LEU U3Si2-Al Al 4)IPEN
5) (with 4) LEU 5)IPEN
U3O8-Al
5 1982 US0203 United Ford Nuclear Decommissioned University of University of 1) UAl alloy Curved Plate Aluminum 1) 93% 1) 14.2 wt% 2) B&W [6-8]
States of Reactor Michigan Michigan 2) UAlx-Al 2) 19.5% 2) 1.8 gU/cc (42
America University of wt%)
Michigan
6 1983 AT0001 Austria ASTRA Decommissioned Austrian Austrian Research 1) HEU - UAl 1-2) curved Aluminum 1-2) 90 1) 0.7 gU/cc [9]
Research Centre Centre Seibersdorf 2) HEU - UAl plate 3) 90 and 93 2) 0.6 gU/cc
Seibersdorf (ARCS) 3) HEU - UAl 3-8) flat plate 4)90 3) 0.66 gU/cc
(ARCS) 4)HEU - UAl 5) 45 4) 0.72 gU/cc
5) UAlx-Al 6-8) 19.75 5) 1.61 gU/cc
6) U3O8-Al 6) 2.8 gU/cc
7) U3Si2-Al 7)4.1 gU/cc
8) U3Si2-Al 8) 4.47 gU/cc
7 1987 US0158 United RCF Operational Rensselaer RPI Nuclear 1) HEU UO2-SS 1)plate 1) SS 1) 90% Phillips [10-12]
States of Rensselaer Polytechnic Engineering dispersion 2)rod 2) SS 304 2) 4.81%
America Polytechnic Institute Department 2) LEU SPERT
(UO2)
8 1987 US0219 United LCWNR Decommissioned Worcester Worcester UAlx-Al Plate Aluminum 1) 93% 2) 1.78 gU/cc 2) B&W [13-15]
States of Worcester Polytechnic Polytechnic Alloy 2) 19.75%
America Polytechnic Institute Institute
Inst.

Research & Test Reactor Fuels | 83 Appendix C

 M3
Conversion Conversion IAEA Enrichment Fuel
Country Name Status Owner Operator Fuel Type Geometry Cladding U-density References
Program Year Code (wt% U235) Fabricator
Index
9 1987 AR0002 Argentina RA-3 Operational Comision RA-3 Reactor 1. UAl alloy Plate Aluminum 1) 93% 2) 2.3 gU/cc 2) CNEA [13, 16-18]
Nacional de 2. U3O8-Al 2) LEU
Energia Atomica dispersion (HALEU)
10 1987 PH0001 Philippines PRR-1 Permanent Philippine Atomic Philippine Nuclear 1) U-Al alloy 1) Plate 1) Aluminum 1) 20% and 2) 20wt% U, 0.5 1) GE [19-21]
Energy Research Institute
Shutdown Commission (PNRI)
2)Er1-U-Zr1H1.6 2) Rod 2) Incoloy 800 93% wt% Er 2) GA
(PAEC) (TRIGA®) 2) 19.7%
11 1988 US0151 United OSURR Operational The Ohio State Nuclear Reactor 1) UAl alloy and Plate Aluminum 1-2) HEU [22, 23]
States of University Laboratory U3O8-Al 3) LEU
America dispersion (HALEU)
2) UAlx-Al
3) U3Si2-Al
dispersion
12 1988 DK0003 Denmark DR-3 Under RISOE National RISOE National HEU U-Al Four AlMg1 HEU (93%) B&W [24-26]
Decommissioning Laboratory for Laboratory for LEU U3Si2-Al concentric LEU (19.88%)
Sustainable Sustainable Energy tubes
Energy
13 1990 SE0001 Sweden R-2 Under Studsvik Studsvik Nuclear 1)UAlx-Al Curved Plate Aluminum 1)93% 2) 3.9gU/cc CERCA [27-32]
Decommissioning Nuclear AB AB 2, 3) U3Si2-Al 2)19.7 3) 4.8gU/cc
3)19.7
14 1990 CH0001 Switzerland SAPHIR Decommissioned Paul Scherrer Paul Scherrer 1) UO2-Al Plate Aluminum 1) 20% 1)2.5gU/cc 1) ORNL [6, 33-35]
Institut (PSI) Institut (PSI) 2) U3O8-Al 2) 90% 2) NUKEM
3) U3Si2-Al concurrent use: 3) B&W
(LEU) 3A) 93% (conversion)
3B) 45% 3) CERCA
3C) LEU 20%
15 1991 US0209 United UTR-10 Iowa Decommissioned Iowa State ISU Department of 1) UAlx-Al Plate 1) Aluminum 1) 92% 1) 0.6 gU/cc 2) B&W [36, 37]
States of State University Chemical 2) U3Si2-Al 2) AA6061 2) 19.75% 2) 3.2 gU/cc
America University Engineering
16 1991 DE0004 Germany FRG-1 Under GKSS- GKSS- 1) UAlx-Al Plate 1) AlMg1 1) 93% 1) 0.44gU/cc [38, 39]
Forschungszentru Forschungszentrum
Decommissioning m Geesthacht Geesthacht gmbH 2) U3Si2-Al 2) AlMg2 2) 19.75% 2) 3.7gU/cc
gmbH 3) AlMg2 3) 19.75 % 3) 4.8 gU/cc
17 1991 PK0001 Pakistan PARR-1 Operational Pakistan Atomic Pakistan Institute of 1) UAl alloy Plate Aluminum 1) 93% 2) 3.32 gU/cc PAEC [40, 41]
Energy Nuclear Science & 2) U3Si2-Al Alloy 2) LEU
Commission Technology (HALEU)
18 1992 US0190 United MCZPR Decommissioned Manhattan Manhattan College 1) UAl alloy 1) concentric 1) aluminum 1) 92% 2) GA [42-45]
States of Manhattan College 2) TRIGA® (U- cylinders 2) stainless 2) 19%
America College ZrHx) 2) rods steel
19 1992 US0205 United MSTR Operational Missouri MUST Nuclear 1) UAl alloy Plate Aluminum 1) HEU 1) 0.57 gU/cc BWXT [46]
States of Missouri University of Reactor Facility 2) U3Si2-Al 2) LEU
America University of Science &
Science & Technology
Technology
20 1992 RO0002 Romania TRIGA II Operational Technologies for Institute for Nuclear U-ZrHx Disc Incoloy-800 1) HEU 1) 10wt% Originally [13, 47]
Nuclear Energy Research, Pitesti
Pitesti - SS State Owned
(TRIGA® fuel) 2) LEU 2) 45wt% GA, now
Core Company (RATEN) CERCA

Research & Test Reactor Fuels | 84 Appendix C

 M3
Conversion Conversion IAEA Enrichment Fuel
Country Name Status Owner Operator Fuel Type Geometry Cladding U-density References
Program Year Code (wt% U235) Fabricator
Index
21 1992 CA0002 Canada NRU Permanent Atomic Energy Chalk River 1) NU Flat Rod Aluminium 1) NU 3) 3.15 gU/cc NRU, AECL [48-50]
Shutdown of Canada Laboratories 2) UAl Alloy (co-extruded 2) HEU
Limited (AECL) 3) U3Si-Al with the fuel) 3) LEU
dispersion
22 1993 US0159 United RINSC Rhode Operational Rhode Island Rhode Island 1) UAl alloy Plate Aluminum 1) HEU B&W, [13, 51]
States of Island NSC Atomic Energy Atomic Energy 2) U3Si2-Al 2) LEU BWXT
America Commission Commission
23 1993 IR0001 Iran, Islamic Tehran Operational Atomic Energy Nuclear Science 1) UAl alloy Plate Aluminum 1) 93% 2) CNEA [18, 52, 53]
Republic of Research Organization of and Technology 2) U3O8-Al alloy 2) LEU
Reactor (TRR) Iran (AEOI) Research Institute dispersion
(NSTRI)
24 1993 JP0015 Japan JMTR Permanent Japan Atomic Oarai Research and 1) HEU UAl Plate AA6061 1) HEU (93%) 2) 1.6 gU/cc BWXT [13, 54-58]
Energy Agency Development 2) “MEU” UAlx-Al 2) MEU (45%)
Shutdown Institute 3) LEU U3Si2-Al 3) LEU (19.75%) 3) 4.8 gU/cc (previous)
CERCA
(current)
25 1994 TR0002 Turkey TR-2 Turkish Extended Turkish Atomic Cekmece Nuclear U3Si2-Al Plate Aluminum 1) 93% 2) CERCA [54, 59, 60]
Reactor 2 Shutdown Energy Research & 2) LEU
Authority Training Center
(TAEK)
26 1997 US0097 United GTRR Decommisioned Georgia Institute Neely Research 1. UAl alloy Curved Plate 1) AA1100 1) 93% 1) 0.65 gU/cc [61-63]
States of Georgia Tech of Technology Center 2. U3Si2-Al 2)AA6061 2) 19.75% 2) 3.5 gU/cc
America
27 1997 US0213 United UVAR Decommissioned University of Nuclear Reactor 1) UAlx-Al 1) Curved 1) Aluminum 1) 93% 2) 3.47 g/cc 2) B&W [64-67]
States of University of Virginia Facility 2) U3Si2-Al Plate 2) AA6061 2) 19.75%
America Virginia 2) Flat Plate
28 1997 CA0009 Canada SLOWPOKE- Operational Ecole 1) UAl Alloy 1) Co- 1) Aluminum 1) 93% AECL (now [68-70]
2, Montreal Polytechnique 2) UO2 extruded slug Alloy 2) LEU CNL)
de Montreal 2) Pellet 2) Zircaloy-4
29 1997 CO0001 Colombia IAN-R1 Operational Instituto Instituto 1) UAl alloy 1) Plate 1) Aluminum 1) 93% GA [13, 71, 72]
Colombiano de Colombiano de 2)U-ZrHx 2) Pin Alloy 2) 19.7%
Geología y Geología y (TRIGA®) 2) Stainless
Minería- Minería- Steel
INGEOMINAS INGEOMINAS
30 1997 DE0031 Germany BER-II Permanent HAHN-MEITNER- BER-II REACTOR 1) UAl alloy 1 &3) Plate Aluminum 1)HEU 3) 3.7 gU/cc 2) Interatom [13, 73-75]
INSTITUT BERLIN
Shutdown GMBH
2) UZrH1.65 (with 2) Rod alloy 2) ~24% 3) CERCA,
2) 3) HALEU then BWXT
3) U3Si2-Al
Dispersion

31 1998 JP0012 Japan JRR-4 Under Japan Atomic Tokai Nuclear 1) UAl Plate aluminum 1) 93% 1) 0.66 gU/cc BWXT [13, 76, 77]
Decommissioning Energy Agency Science Research 2) U3Si2-Al 2) 19.75% 2) 3.8 gU/cc
Institute
32 1998 NL0002 Netherlands HOR Temporary Delft University Interfaculty 1) UAlx-Al Plate Aluminum 1) 93% 1) 0.57 gU/cc 2) CERCA [78-80]
Shutdown of Technology Reactor Inst., Delft 2) U3Si2-Al 2) LEU 2) 4.3 gU/cc
University of
Technology

Research & Test Reactor Fuels | 85 Appendix C

 M3
Conversion Conversion IAEA Enrichment Fuel
Country Name Status Owner Operator Fuel Type Geometry Cladding U-density References
Program Year Code (wt% U235) Fabricator
Index
33 1999 SI0001 Slovenia TRIGA- Operational J. Stefan J. Stefan Institute 1)U-ZrHx (1966- Disc 1) aluminum 1)HALEU 1,2,3) 8.5 wt% GA [13, 81]
MARK II Institute 1983) 2-4) Stainless 2)HALEU 4) 12wt%
Ljubljana 2) U-ZrHx (1970- Steel 304 3)70%
1996) 4)HALEU
3) U-ZrHx -Er
(1973-1991)
4) U-ZrHx (1991
onwards)
34 1999 CA0004 Canada MNR Operational McMaster Nuclear Reactor 1) UAl alloy Curved Plate Aluminum 1) 93% 2) CERCA [13, 48, 82]
McMaster University Laboratory 2)U3Si2-Al 2) LEU
University
35 1999 CL0001 Chile RECH-1 Operational Comision La Reina Nuclear 1) UAl alloy Plate Aluminum 1) 80% 2) 3.4 gU/cc CCHEN [13, 83, 84]
Chilena de Centre-CCHEN 2) U3Si2-Al 2) HALEU
Energia Nuclear
36 1999 GR0001 Greece Demokritos Extended NCSR Institute of Nuclear 1) UAl alloy Plate Aluminum 1) 93% 1) 0.58 gU/cc CERCA [85-87]
"Demokritos" Technology-Rad 2) U3Si2-Al 2) 19.75% 2) 3.36 gU/cc
(GRR-1) Shutdown Protection
(LEU)
37 1999 SE0002 Sweden R2-0 Under Studsvik Studsvik Nuclear 1)UAlx-Al Plate Aluminum 1) 90 CERCA [29, 88, 89]
Decommissioning Nuclear AB AB 2) U3Si2-Al 2) 19.75
38 2000 US0201 United UMLR Univ. Operational University of UML Radiation 1) U3O8-Al Plate Aluminum 1) 93% BWXT [90-92]
States of Mass. Lowell Massachusetts Laboratory 2) U3Si2-Al 2) 19.75%
America Lowell
39 2004 AU0001 Australia HIFAR Permanent Australian Lucas Heights 1-4) UAl alloy Concentric Aluminum 1) 93% [93-97]
Shutdown Nuclear Science Science and 5) U3Si2-Al Tubes 2) 80%
and Technology Technology Centre 3) 75%
Organisation 4) 60%
5) 19.75%
40 2006 CZ0004 Czech VR-1 Operational Czech Technical Faculty of Nuclear UO2 dispersion Square Aluminum 1) 36% TVEL [98]
Republic University in Sciences & (initially IRT-3M, concentric alloy SAV-1 2) HALEU
Prague Physical converted to IRT- tubes
Engineering 4M)
41 2006 NL0004 Netherlands HFR Operational European Nuclear Research 1) UAlx-Al Plate Aluminum 1) 93% 2) 4.8 gU/cc CERCA [78-80]
Commission and Consultancy 2) U3Si2-Al alloy 2) HALEU
(EU) Group (NRG)
42 2006 LY0002 Libya TNRC Critical Operational Tajoura Nuclear Tajoura Nuclear 1) UAl alloy Plate Aluminum 1) 80% TVEL [99, 100]
Facility Research Center Research Center 2) UO2-Al 2) HALEU
43 2006 US0192 United NSCR Texas Operational Texas A&M Nuclear Science 1) UAl (HEU) 1) Plate 304 Stainless 1) 93% 2-4) 8.5wt% 1-4) GA [101-105]
University System Center, Texas A&M
States A&M Univ. University
2) LEU U-ZrHx 2) Rod Steel 2) LEU 5) 30wt% 5) TRIGA®
3) Mixed LEU 3) LEU and International
and FLIP U-ZrHx 70% (CERCA)
4) FLIP U-ZrHx 4) 70%
5) LEU U-ZrHx 5) LEU
(HALEU)
44 2006 US0196 United UFTR Operational University of Univ. of Florida 1) UAl Plate 1) Aluminum 1) 93% 1) 0.45 gU/cc [13, 106,
States University of Florida Dept. of Material 2) U3Si2-Al 2) AA6061 2) 19.75% 107]
Florida Sciences &
Engineering
Research & Test Reactor Fuels | 86 Appendix C
 M3
Conversion Conversion IAEA Enrichment Fuel
Country Name Status Owner Operator Fuel Type Geometry Cladding U-density References
Program Year Code (wt% U235) Fabricator
Index
45 2007 LY0001 Libya IRT-1 Temporary Tajoura Nuclear Tajoura Nuclear 1) UAl alloy Plate Aluminum 1) 80% TVEL [100]
Shutdown Research Center Research Center 2) UO2-Al 2) HALEU
46 2007 CN0004 China HFETR Operational Nuclear Power Nuclear Power HEU UAl alloy Concentric aluminum HEU, then [108-110]
Institute of Institute of China LEU Silicide Tubes LEU (HALEU)
China
47 2007 CN0008 China HFETR Operational Nuclear Power Nuclear Power same as the test Concentric aluminum HEU, then [109]
Critical Institute of Institute of China reactor (CN0004) Tubes LEU (HALEU)
China
48 2007 PT0001 Portugal RPI Permanent Instituto Instituto Superior 1) U-Al alloy Plate 1) AA1100 1) 93.2% 1) 0.83 gU/cc CERCA [54, 111]
Shutdown Superior Tecnico (IST) 2) U3Si2-Al 2) AG3NE 2) 19.75% 2) 4.8 gU/cc (LEU)
Tecnico (IST) dispersion
49 2007 US0156 United PUR-1 Purdue Operational Purdue Purdue University, 1) UAl alloy Plate Aluminum 1) HEU 1) 0.57 gU/cc [112, 113]
States of University University School of Nuclear 2) U3Si2-Al 2) LEU
America Engineering dispersion
50 2007 VN0001 Vietnam DALAT Operational Dalat Nuclear Dalat Nuclear 1) UAl Concentric Aluminum 1) 36% 2) 2.5 gU/cc TVEL [114-116]
Research Institute Research Institute
Research 2) UO2-Al Tubes 2) 19.75%
Reactor
51 2008 UZ0001 Uzbekistan VVR-SM Operational Uzbek Academy of Institute of Nuclear 1) EK-10 (1959- 1) EK-10 aluminum 1) 10% 4) 3 gU/cc TVEL [13, 117-
Sciences Physics
TASHKENT 1970), (rod) alloy 2) 90% 120]
2) IRT-2M (1971- 2) IRT-2M 3) 36%
1978), (concentric 4) 19.82%
3) IRT-3M (1979- tubes)
2007) 3) IRT-3M
4) IRT-4M (concentric
tubes)
All UO2-Al 4) IRT-4M
type (square
concentric
tubes)
52 2008 ZA0001 South Africa SAFARI-1 Operational South African South African 1) UAl alloy Plate Aluminum 1) 90% 1) 0.57 gU/cc CERCA [121, 122]
Nuclear Energy Nuclear Energy 2) U3Si2-Al alloy 2) LEU
Corporation Corporation
(NECSA) (NECSA)
53 2008 AR0006 Argentina RA-6 Operational Comicion Centro Atomico 1) UAl alloy Plate Aluminum 1) 93% 2) 4.8 gU/cc CNEA [13, 17]
Nacional de Bariloche 2) U3Si2-Al 2) LEU Argentina
Energia Atomica
54 2008 US0206 United WSUR Operational Washington WSU Nuclear U-ZrHx Disc Stainless steel 1) LEU 1) 8.5 wt% 1 and 2) GA [54, 123,
States of Washington State University Science Center (continuous 2) 8.5wt% 1 and 3) 124]
America State usage) 3) 30 wt% CERCA
University 2) 70%
3) LEU
55 2008 US0148 United OSTR, Operational Oregon State Oregon State U-ZrHx Disc 304 Stainless 1) 70% 1) 8.5wt% 1) GA [54, 125-
States of Oregon State University University Steel 2) 19.75% 2) 30 wt% 2) CERCA 128]
America Univ. Radiation Center
56 2008 UA0001 Ukraine WWR-M Kiev Operational National Institute for 1) WWR-M5 Concentric Aluminum 1) 90% 2) 1.1 gU/cc TVEL [13, 129-
Academy of Nuclear Research (UAl alloy) or tubes: outer alloy 2) 36% 3) 2.3 gU/cc 132]

Research & Test Reactor Fuels | 87 Appendix C

 M3
Conversion Conversion IAEA Enrichment Fuel
Country Name Status Owner Operator Fuel Type Geometry Cladding U-density References
Program Year Code (wt% U235) Fabricator
Index
Sciences of WWR-M7 (UO2- hexagonal, 3) 19.75
Ukraine Al dispersion) two inner
type cylindrical
2) WWR-M2
UO2-Al
3) UO2-Al
57 2009 US0215 United UWNR Operational University of Max Carbon U-ZrHx Fuel meat 304 stainless 1) HALEU 1) 8.5 wt% 1 and 2) GA [124, 133,
States of University of Wisconsin- Radiation Science annulus with steel 2) 70% 2) 8.5wt% 3) CERCA 134]
America Wisconsin Madison Center Zr core 3) HALEU 3) 30 wt%
58 2009 HU0002 Hungary Budapest Operational MTA KFKI Atomic Energy 1) UO2-Mg 1) Rod Aluminum 1) 10% TVEL [135-138]
Research Atomic Energy Research Institute 2) UAlx-Al 2-4) Alloy 2) 36%
Reactor Research 3) UO2-Al concentric 3) 36%
(BRR) Institute 4) UO2-Al tubes (two 4) LEU
circular inner
tubes and one
hexagonal
outer tube)
59 2009 US0018 United NRAD Operational US DOE Idaho National U-ZrHx Rod 304 Stainless 1) 70% 1) 8.5 wt% 1) GA [54, 139-142]

States of Laboratory Steel 2) 19.75% 2) 30wt% 2) CERCA

America
60 2010 JP0011 Japan KUR Operational Kyoto Research Reactor 1. UAl alloy Curved Plate Aluminum 1) 93% 1) 0.57 gU/cc CERCA [143]
University Institute, Kyoto 2. U3Si2-Al Alloy 2) LEU 2) 3.2 gU/cc
University
61 2010 CZ0003 Czech LVR-15 Rež Operational Nuclear Nuclear Research UO2-Al 1) IRT-2M Aluminum 1) 36% NCCP [144, 145]
Republic Research Centre Centre Rež 2) IRT-4M alloy 2) LEU (TVEL),
Rež (concentric Novosibirsk,
tubes) Russia
62 2011 MX0001 Mexico TRIGA Operational Instituto Nacional Instituto Nacional de U-ZrHx Disc SS 304 1) LEU 20% 1) 8.5 wt% TRIGA® [16, 146,
de Investigaciones 2) HEU 70% 2) 8.5 wt% International
MARK III Investigaciones Nucleares 3) LEU 20% 3) 30 wt% 147]
(CERCA,
Nucleares Romans)
63 2013 KZ0004 Kazakhstan WWR-K CF Operational Kazakhstan Institute of Nuclear UO2-Al Hexagonal aluminum 1) 36% 1) 1.3 gU/cc [148-150]
Atomic Energy Physics
Committee
tubes 2) 19.7% 2) 2.8 gU/cc
64 2013 PL0004 Poland MARIA Operational Institute of Institute of Atomic 1) UAl alloy Concentric Aluminum 1) 80% 3) 4.8 gU/cc CERCA [151-154]
Atomic Energy Energy 2) UO2-Al Tubes 2) 36%
3) U3Si2-Al 3) LEU
65 2013 CN0012 China MJTR Operational Nuclear Power Nuclear Power Spent fuel from Six aluminum HEU, then [108, 109,
Institute of Institute of China HFETR concentric HALEU 155]
China (CN0004) tubes in a
fuel assembly
66 2014 RU0018 Russian Argus (AHR) Operational Federal Agency Russian Research Aqueous solution Aqueous stainless steel 1) 90% [156, 157]
Federation on Science and Centre, Kurchatov of UO2-SO4 vessel 2) LEU
Innovation Institute
67 2015 JM0001 Jamaica UWI CNS Operational University of the International 1) UAl Alloy 1) 1) Aluminum 1) 93% AECL [13, 158]
Slowpoke West Indies Centre for 2) UO2 Cylindrical alloy 2) LEU
Environmental & Slug 2) Zircaloy-4
Nuclear Science 2) Pellet
Research & Test Reactor Fuels | 88 Appendix C
 M3
Conversion Conversion IAEA Enrichment Fuel
Country Name Status Owner Operator Fuel Type Geometry Cladding U-density References
Program Year Code (wt% U235) Fabricator
Index
68 2016 CN006 China MNSR IAE Operational China Institute Department of 1) UAl alloy 1) Slug 1) Al-303-1 1) 90% 1) 0.92 gU/cc CNNC China [159, 160]
of Atomic Reactor 2) UO2 2) Pellet alloy 2) 13% 2) 8.1 gU/cc
Energy Engineering & 2) Zircaloy-4
Technology
69 2016 KZ0001 Kazakhstan WWR-K Operational Ministry of Institute of Nuclear UO2-Al Hexagonal Aluminum 1) 36% 1) 1.3 gU/cc TVEL [161]
Almaty Energy of the Physics (INP, RK) tube with alloy 2) LEU 2) 2.8gU/cc
Republic of extruded with
Kazakhstan Al cladding
70 2017 GH0001 Ghana GHARR-1 Operational Ghana Atomic National Nuclear 1) UAl Alloy 1) Slug 1) Al-303-1 1) 90% 2) 2.8gU/cc CNNC, [160, 162,
Energy Research Institute 2) UO2 2) Pellet alloy 2) 13% China 163]
Commission 2) Zircaloy-4
71 2019 NG0001 Nigeria NIRR-1 Operational Nigeria Atomic Centre for Energy 1) UAl alloy 1) Slug 1) Aluminum 1) 90% 2) 9.35gU/cc CNNC, [163-166]
Energy Research and 2) UO2 2) Pellet 2) Zircaloy-4 2) 13% China
Commission Training (CERT)
72 2022 KZ0003 Kazakhstan IVG Operational National Institute of Atomic 1) UZr Alloy Two-bladed Zr-Nb alloy 1) 90% Scientific [167-170]
Nuclear Center Energy (IAE) NNC 2) uranium spiral rod 2) HALEU Production
of Kazakhstan RK filaments in Association
(NNC RK) zirconium matrix LUCH
(Russia)

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