Development of long life FBR fuels with particular emphasis on cladding material improvement and fuel fabrication.

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Abstract
The development of FBR fuel systems with high reliability and long in-core residence capability is required to make the fast reactor economically competitive with other electrical energy sources. PNC program of fuels and materials development has been primarily focused on mixed uranium/plutonium oxide (MOX) fuel with cold-worked 316 stainless steel for the past 20 years. Modified 316 stainless steel with excellent swelling resistance and high creep rupture strength was obtained for cladding and duct of the fast prototype reactor MONJU. Advanced austenitic alloys and high strength ferritic alloys are also being investigated for high burnup fuel assemblies of a long life core in large scale FBRs. In MOX fuel fabrication technology, extensive progress has been achieved during driver fuel fabrication for the experimental reactor JOYO. A new MOX production facility PFPF has been completed with fully automatic and remote handling systems. This facility serves for MONJU core fuel production. The improvement of fuel fabrication technologies promotes cost reduction, safety operation and security from a physical protection standpoint.

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