Objective
INSPYRE, a proposal fully supported and endorsed by the Steering Committee of the EERA Joint Programme on Nuclear Materials, focusses on the investigation of fast reactor MOX fuel to support the licensing of the start-up cores of the ESNII reactor prototypes. It will:
• Use carefully designed separate effect (modelling and experimental) investigations to accurately describe basic phenomena occurring in the fuel with sound physical models, expanding empirical fuel behaviour knowledge gained in the past in irradiation tests and post-irradiation examinations,
• Characterize selected key irradiated fuel samples to fill clearly identified knowledge gaps,
• Combine and leverage basic and technological research to enhance and extend the reliability range of traditionally deduced empirical laws governing performance of nuclear fuels under irradiation,
• Implement the new models and data obtained in the fuel performance codes used for the design of ESNII systems and apply the improved codes to ESNII relevant conditions.
The impacts of the INSPYRE project will be many. Fuel is at the heart of nuclear reactor systems, but its qualification and licensing is challenging due to the complex coupled phenomena (physical, chemical, radiation, thermal and mechanical) induced by fission. INSPYRE represents a paradigm shift. It will enable a timely, facilitated and cost effective licensing of fast reactor fuels, only achievable by generating validated simulation tools capable of limiting qualification to punctual dedicated irradiation experiments. Of foremost importance is the relevant and efficient leveraging of past knowledge, technological and basic science approaches to extend the applicability of codes.
INSPYRE’s goals will be achieved by a well-balanced consortium from universities, research and industrial organisations already collaborating in the EERA JPNM, further augmented by a dedicated user group stemming from ESNII representatives, fuel vendors, utilities and TSOs.
Fields of science
- social scienceslaw
- natural sciencesphysical scienceselectromagnetism and electronicselectrical conductivity
- natural sciencesphysical sciencestheoretical physicsparticle physicsparticle accelerator
- engineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringenergy and fuels
- natural scienceschemical sciencesphysical chemistrythermochemistry
- natural sciencesphysical sciencesnuclear physicsnuclear fission
- engineering and technologyother engineering and technologiesnuclear engineering
- natural scienceschemical sciencesinorganic chemistryinorganic compounds
Programme(s)
Call for proposal
NFRP-2016-2017-1
See other projects for this call
Funding Scheme
RIA - Research and Innovation action
Coordinator
75015 Paris 15
France
Participants (13)
1049 Brussels
000196 Roma
WA3 6AE Warrington
1755 LE Petten
5232 Villigen Psi
1160 Bruxelles
75008 Paris 08
75794 Paris
02150 Espoo
100 44 Stockholm
20133 Milano
2628 CN Delft
75011 Paris