COPAG

NAC Worldwide Consulting Offices

Atlanta
London
Moscow
Tokyo

a division of

Core Performance Assessment Group (COPAG)

Click here to download latest COPAG publications.

Stoller's Core Performance Assessment Group (COPAG), established in 1975, is an international group of nuclear utilities that sponsors in-depth analyses of critical contemporary issues in nuclear fuel design, performance and reliability

Membership Benefits

	Members stay up-to-date on all current fuel-related issues, experiences and operational implications at a very modest cost
	Members pool their resources, resulting in a product beyond the means of an individual utility
	COPAG has a compact format - one 3-day seminar per year in the U.S., Europe and Japan and written reports on each topic investigated - making efficient use of scarce staff time
	COPAG focuses on members' critical issues, reviewing and analyzing technology advances, assessing performance problems and evaluating potential solutions. Each year's program includes a balance of topics relevant to BWRs and PWRs.

What's Happening in Nuclear Fuel Technology?

COPAG incorporates an annual review of the fuel and core component technology of all U.S. and European fuel vendors and an assessment of how ongoing developments will affect fuel performance and reliability. These reviews include:

	Fuel performance by plant—review and evaluation of failures
	New fuel and component design features and fabrication methods
	Advances in design and analytical methods
	Licensing status
	Results of lead assembly/component testing and irradiation programs

Analysis and Evaluation of Critical Contemporary Issues

Several reports are produced each year on a variety of member-selected topics that focus on the critical performance issues of the day. Among the topics in recent years are:

	Status of Advanced LWR Fuel Designs
	Critical Review of BWR and PWR Fuel Failures
	Technical Implications of the Consolidation of the Fuel Fabrication Vendors
	TVEL as an Emerging Fuel Supplier
	Noble Metal Chemical Addition and Optimized Water Chemistry
	Compatibility Issues and Criteria for New Fuel Designs
	New Issues in Zirconium Technology
	Characterization of Spent Fuel for Dry Storage and Transportation
	Back End Considerations for Ultra High Burnup Fuel
	The Reactivity Insertion Accident and the Influence of Pellet Rim Structure
	Long Term Dry Storage of High Burnup Fuel Assemblies
	Fuel-Related Generic Safety and Licensing Issues
	High Burnup Fuel Designs - Their Operation and Performance
	Improving Fuel Reliability
	Failed Fuel Detection Methods

The COPAG Advantage

By pooling the contributions of its members, COPAG provides a wealth of information for a very modest cost per participant. COPAG's annual budget typically multiplies the individual utility's contribution by a factor of 25 or more. All of these resources are available to each COPAG member.

COPAG membership ensures that the issues of greatest concern to you are addressed and analyzed. The results are provided on a timely basis and in a forum that encourages your direct participation

For more information, please contact Geoff Varley at + 44-1491-636-284 or Chris Rusch at (678) 328-1222.