Objective
The Fukushima Daiichi event has demonstrated the need for improved nuclear energy safety, which can be ensured by the development of accident-tolerant fuels (ATFs). ATFs are expected to overcome the inherent technical shortcomings of the standard zircaloy/UO2 fuels, thus relieving the industry from the huge financial penalty associated with beyond-design-basis accidents leading to fuel cladding material failure and release of radioactive fission products to the power plant containment and the environment. The main objective of IL TROVATORE is to identify the best candidate ATF cladding materials for use in Gen-II and Gen-III/III+ LWRs and to validate them in an industrially-relevant environment, i.e. under neutron irradiation in PWR-like water. Ideally, fuel cladding materials must demonstrate leak tightness and containment of fuel pellets and fission products during the fuel residence in the reactor, even under transient/accidental operation conditions. The innovative ATF cladding material concepts proposed in IL TROVATORE are expected to demonstrate significant improvement in performance when compared to the current fuel cladding materials, thus helping to take a critical step towards an improved energy safety worldwide, in response to the requirements of the amended Nuclear Safety Directive. The development of ATF clads will eliminate redundant safety systems, improving the market profile of current reactor designs, and the overall envisaged innovation will strengthen the competitiveness of European industries in both nuclear and non-nuclear sectors. To achieve its ambitious objectives, IL TROVATORE relies on academic excellence and industrial support, while also involving standardization bodies and nuclear safety regulatory authorities to accelerate the transfer of key innovation to market. Since IL TROVATORE is put forth to address a pressing global challenge, it is presented as an international collaboration between Europe, the USA and Japan.
Fields of science
- engineering and technologymaterials engineeringcomposites
- engineering and technologyother engineering and technologiesnuclear engineering
- engineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringenergy and fuelsnuclear energy
- engineering and technologymaterials engineeringcoating and films
- engineering and technologymaterials engineeringceramics
Keywords
Programme(s)
Funding Scheme
RIA - Research and Innovation actionCoordinator
HD1 3DH Huddersfield
United Kingdom
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Participants (30)
3000 Leuven
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52062 Aachen
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76131 Karlsruhe
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22043 Hamburg
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01069 Dresden
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86983 Lechbruck Am See
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52134 Herzogenrath
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
1049 Bruxelles / Brussel
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51147 Koln
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581 83 Linkoping
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100 44 Stockholm
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811 81 Sandviken
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72163 Vasteras
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CB2 1TN Cambridge
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OX1 2JD Oxford
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SW7 2AZ LONDON
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M13 9PL Manchester
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1160 Bruxelles / Brussel
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WA3 6AE Warrington
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DE24 8BJ Derby
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86034 Poitiers Cedex
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75015 PARIS 15
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91190 Gif-Sur-Yvette
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Legal entity other than a subcontractor which is affiliated or legally linked to a participant. The entity carries out work under the conditions laid down in the Grant Agreement, supplies goods or provides services for the action, but did not sign the Grant Agreement. A third party abides by the rules applicable to its related participant under the Grant Agreement with regard to eligibility of costs and control of expenditure.
75794 Paris
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75008 Paris
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93571 Saint Denis La Plaine
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10129 Torino
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16163 Genova
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19104 Philadelphia
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606 8501 Kyoto
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