Nuclear Fuel and Reactor Core Component Performance Assessment

NAC Stoller has been assisting utilities in improving the performance of their nuclear fuel and core components for over four decades. These assignments have included fuel assemblies supplied by almost every vendor in the world as well as control rods/blades and other in-core components.

NAC Stoller's nuclear fuel performance services include:

	Tracking the performance of fuel assemblies and their components for each of the principal vendors and cataloging:
	The quantity of each design irradiated and its exposure
	The number of fuel failures recorded, their causes and remedies
	Studies of generic fuel performance problems, normally sponsored by groups of utilities that are using, or contemplating the use of, the affected fuel design. These investigations include:
	Determining the causes of the problem
	Assessing the operating impact of the problem and how it might be mitigated
	Evaluating the resolution of the problem proposed by the vendor
	Assistance to individual utilities in the solution of specific performance problems (e.g., fuel failures). These assignments typically involve assistance in:
	Determining the root cause of the problem
	Devising specific operating strategies to mitigate the impact of the problem until the affected fuel assemblies can be repaired or discharged
	Assessing the effectiveness of design changes and other solutions proposed by the vendor, the adequacy of the testing program for the revised design, etc.

 

 

 

 

 

NAC Stoller's involvement in performance assessments has also resulted in an intimate knowledge of all contemporary fuel designs and the advantages, disadvantages and uncertainties associated with each one.

Experience

	International BWR Utility Group
	Failed Fuel Assessment
	International BWR Utility Group
	Comprehensive Independent Assessment of GNF-A P8 Cladding
	Energy Northwest
	Participation in Task Force Evaluating Excessive Corrosion on Fuel Rods
	Exelon Generation
	Assistance in Investigation and Root Cause Analysis of Fuel Failures
	Progress Energy
	Assistance in Investigation and Root Cause Analysis of Fuel Failures
	Southern California Edison
	Assistance in Investigation and Root Cause Analysis of Fuel Failures
	FirstEnergy (U.S.)
	Review of Fuel Reliability Programs
	Florida Power & Light (U.S.)
	Root Cause Analysis of Fuel Failures
	CP&L, TEPCO (Japan) and TVO (Finland)
	Individual Assessments of BWR Claddings
	Omaha Public Power District (U.S.)
	Root Cause Analysis and Resolution of PWR Fuel Failures
	Southern California Edison (U.S.)
	Assessment of Grid Welding Problem, Solution
	Tennessee Valley Authority (U.S.)
	Root Cause Analysis of Fuel Failure
	International Utility Groups
	Comprehensive Analysis of PWR Fuel Assembly Materials
	Comprehensive Analysis of BWR Cladding
	Evaluation of PCI Failures in BWR Barrier Fuel
	Evaluation of BWR Barrier Clad Failures and Secondary Degradation
	Analysis of PWR Grid-to-Rod Fretting Failures