ATLANTIC: Accident ToLerANT fuels In reCycling
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Leeds
Department Name: Chemical and Process Engineering
Abstract
ATLANTIC is a broad ranging, multi-discipline programme that will focus on the very real challenge facing the UK and worldwide nuclear industry; that of how to implement accident tolerant fuels into our existing reactor fleets.
To deliver this programme we are building on a close knit community of expertise that was created in EPSRC's PACIFIC programme and we have brought together a team of over 20 experts from 12 leading universities in the field of nuclear fission.
Our team has already established close collaborative links with EU FP7 programmes such as SACSESS and ASGARD; strengthening the breadth and depth of expertise and allowing a continuing presence on the H2020 programme GENIORS. The UK has started on NIRAB R&D programmes in fuels and recycle; which look at the future of nuclear fission for the UK. Four of the Universities contributing to these programmes are part of the ATLANTIC team.
ATLANTIC will create a foundation for implementing developmental work on ATF, but will also promote fundamental science on fuel behaviour, manufacture, separations and process kinetics.
The programme is built around five interconnected work packages focussing on the scientific and engineering challenges, with two supporting work packages that provide programme governance and create collaborative links.
Work package 1: "fuel - separations interface" will answer a number of research questions concerning the balance between recyclability and accident tolerance, particular knowledge gaps being: (1) What are the mechanisms of oxidation of ATFs under a range of conditions encountered throughout the fuel cycle but especially headend; and (2) how do the products of dissolution impact on advanced aqueous separations processes in development such as the Advanced PUREX, i-SANEX and GANEX processes. WP1 is led by Prof. Colin Boxall (Lancaster).
Work package 2: "effects of contaminants on separations" will target the GANEX and iSANEX process, investigating the effects of contaminants on speciation, e.g. Cr3+ and Np redox. WP2 is led by Prof. Laurence (Reading).
Work package 3: "investigation and optimisation of accident tolerant fuel materials" focuses on the optimisation and manufacture of accident tolerant fuel materials, and is broken down into three sub-packages: fabrication of ceramic fuels in pelletised form (U3Si2 and UN); materials characterisation and performance under lab conditions; and the effects of radiation damage on their properties and how this may modify in-reactor behaviour. WP3 is led by Prof. Karl Whittle (Liverpool).
Work package 4: "fuel behaviour, non-stoichiometry and the fuel-water interface" will build an understanding of the how these fuels react in aqueous environments in the event of pin rupture during operation and/or subsequently during long-term storage and disposal. WP4 is led by Dr. Ian Farnan (Cambridge).
Work package 5: "integrated management of accident tolerant fuels" will develop integrated separation technologies, by combining novel liquid-liquid intensified reactors and process control, which can be used in the recycling and reprocessing of metals and the production of nuclear fuel. WP5 is led by Prof. Panagiota Angeli (UCL).
Work package 6: "networking and collaboration" will provide a focal point for dissemination of the research results and to reach out to international organisations where complimentary activities can be carried out through collaboration. WP6 is led by Dr Clint Sharrad (Manchester).
Work package 7: " programme governance" will provide the necessary support to the team to ensure that the links between the work packages are effective by providing overview and advice from external experts and regular contact between team members. WP7 is led by the two principle investigators for the programme, Profs. Bruce Hanson (Leeds) and Tim Abram (Manchester).
To deliver this programme we are building on a close knit community of expertise that was created in EPSRC's PACIFIC programme and we have brought together a team of over 20 experts from 12 leading universities in the field of nuclear fission.
Our team has already established close collaborative links with EU FP7 programmes such as SACSESS and ASGARD; strengthening the breadth and depth of expertise and allowing a continuing presence on the H2020 programme GENIORS. The UK has started on NIRAB R&D programmes in fuels and recycle; which look at the future of nuclear fission for the UK. Four of the Universities contributing to these programmes are part of the ATLANTIC team.
ATLANTIC will create a foundation for implementing developmental work on ATF, but will also promote fundamental science on fuel behaviour, manufacture, separations and process kinetics.
The programme is built around five interconnected work packages focussing on the scientific and engineering challenges, with two supporting work packages that provide programme governance and create collaborative links.
Work package 1: "fuel - separations interface" will answer a number of research questions concerning the balance between recyclability and accident tolerance, particular knowledge gaps being: (1) What are the mechanisms of oxidation of ATFs under a range of conditions encountered throughout the fuel cycle but especially headend; and (2) how do the products of dissolution impact on advanced aqueous separations processes in development such as the Advanced PUREX, i-SANEX and GANEX processes. WP1 is led by Prof. Colin Boxall (Lancaster).
Work package 2: "effects of contaminants on separations" will target the GANEX and iSANEX process, investigating the effects of contaminants on speciation, e.g. Cr3+ and Np redox. WP2 is led by Prof. Laurence (Reading).
Work package 3: "investigation and optimisation of accident tolerant fuel materials" focuses on the optimisation and manufacture of accident tolerant fuel materials, and is broken down into three sub-packages: fabrication of ceramic fuels in pelletised form (U3Si2 and UN); materials characterisation and performance under lab conditions; and the effects of radiation damage on their properties and how this may modify in-reactor behaviour. WP3 is led by Prof. Karl Whittle (Liverpool).
Work package 4: "fuel behaviour, non-stoichiometry and the fuel-water interface" will build an understanding of the how these fuels react in aqueous environments in the event of pin rupture during operation and/or subsequently during long-term storage and disposal. WP4 is led by Dr. Ian Farnan (Cambridge).
Work package 5: "integrated management of accident tolerant fuels" will develop integrated separation technologies, by combining novel liquid-liquid intensified reactors and process control, which can be used in the recycling and reprocessing of metals and the production of nuclear fuel. WP5 is led by Prof. Panagiota Angeli (UCL).
Work package 6: "networking and collaboration" will provide a focal point for dissemination of the research results and to reach out to international organisations where complimentary activities can be carried out through collaboration. WP6 is led by Dr Clint Sharrad (Manchester).
Work package 7: " programme governance" will provide the necessary support to the team to ensure that the links between the work packages are effective by providing overview and advice from external experts and regular contact between team members. WP7 is led by the two principle investigators for the programme, Profs. Bruce Hanson (Leeds) and Tim Abram (Manchester).
Planned Impact
The main impact of Atlantic will be to create a greater understanding of accident tolerant fuels and cladding in relation to their manufacture, performance, handling and treatment. This body of knowledge will assist UK regulatory bodies in their understanding of the additional protection that AFTCs offer compared to current fuel and cladding technologies, smoothing the licencing process for future use in UK reactors and accelerating the switch over. The knowledge will inform UK Government strategy on future fuel cycle options. Many of the Atlantic team have had and are linked to NIRAB and will be able to feed into decisions on future government led research programmes. Prof. Robin Grimes is the Chief Scientific Officer for FCO and leads on nuclear issues across other departments, so is able to act as a direct conduit into UK Government thinking on policies. In addition, a number of the universities in the team are working with NNL on phase 1 of the BEIS funded programmes on fuels and recycle. The work on ATFC delivered in Atlantic will directly complement these national programmes and allow a better and more informed decision on the scope of future phases. Finally, the knowledge will inform industry itself on the effectiveness of ATFC in UK reactors. Our links to key industry providers such as Westinghouse (Prof. Tim Abram sits as the Westinghouse Chair in Nuclear Fuel Technology) means we will be able to provide clear and direct advice on manufacture, performance and treatment, to allow them to make more informed business decisions.
A secondary, but equally important impact of Atlantic will be to crystallise and focus UK academic effort into a targeted programme. This will provide for more effective collaboration within the UK university network and between UK universities and overseas research organisations that have similar missions. Atlantic will be a collaborative and highly expert community to nurture the careers and skills of a group of new researchers, for the benefit of all the nuclear fission community; whether academic or industrial. Atlantic will create a focal point to for a host of new collaborations that strengthen and deepen the research base across a wide range of nuclear fission topics. A number of research proposals are planned for submission to compliment Atlantic and create a wider family of researchers. Atlantic will provide, through its annual seminar, a platform for all of these researchers to share knowledge, provide assistance and collaborate.
Thirdly, Atlantic will create a group of world class researchers that can act as a team to promote and enhance UK collaborations internationally. Each of the researchers will be empowered to act as an ambassador for the UK nuclear fission community through the support of a critical mass of experts which is of equal to the other programmes around the world. We have support from the main US DoE laboratories tasked with working on fuels and separations (Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Idaho National Laboratory) that the Atlantic team will be welcomed into the US to discuss future collaborative opportunities. We have support from the key EU H2020 programmes on separations (Geniors) that similar activities will be planned.
Finally, Atlantic will deliver cutting edge research across a wide range of subjects of interest to all members of the internationally fission community.
* Fuel manufacture
* Fuel behaviour
* Spent fuel treatment
* Actinide separations
* Real time process control
* Innovative technologies
Whether through the multiple links outside of the team, or the close and effective collaboration within the team, Atlantic will create an impact far reaching and greater than the core programme.
A secondary, but equally important impact of Atlantic will be to crystallise and focus UK academic effort into a targeted programme. This will provide for more effective collaboration within the UK university network and between UK universities and overseas research organisations that have similar missions. Atlantic will be a collaborative and highly expert community to nurture the careers and skills of a group of new researchers, for the benefit of all the nuclear fission community; whether academic or industrial. Atlantic will create a focal point to for a host of new collaborations that strengthen and deepen the research base across a wide range of nuclear fission topics. A number of research proposals are planned for submission to compliment Atlantic and create a wider family of researchers. Atlantic will provide, through its annual seminar, a platform for all of these researchers to share knowledge, provide assistance and collaborate.
Thirdly, Atlantic will create a group of world class researchers that can act as a team to promote and enhance UK collaborations internationally. Each of the researchers will be empowered to act as an ambassador for the UK nuclear fission community through the support of a critical mass of experts which is of equal to the other programmes around the world. We have support from the main US DoE laboratories tasked with working on fuels and separations (Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Idaho National Laboratory) that the Atlantic team will be welcomed into the US to discuss future collaborative opportunities. We have support from the key EU H2020 programmes on separations (Geniors) that similar activities will be planned.
Finally, Atlantic will deliver cutting edge research across a wide range of subjects of interest to all members of the internationally fission community.
* Fuel manufacture
* Fuel behaviour
* Spent fuel treatment
* Actinide separations
* Real time process control
* Innovative technologies
Whether through the multiple links outside of the team, or the close and effective collaboration within the team, Atlantic will create an impact far reaching and greater than the core programme.
Publications

Angeli P
(2019)
Intensified Liquid-Liquid Extraction Technologies in Small Channels: A Review
in Johnson Matthey Technology Review

Bascone D
(2019)
A modelling approach for the comparison between intensified extraction in small channels and conventional solvent extraction technologies
in Chemical Engineering Science

Dixon Wilkins M
(2020)
Synthesis and characterisation of high ceramic fraction brannerite (UTi 2 O 6 ) glass-ceramic composites
in IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering

Johnstone E
(2020)
Synthesis and characterization of iodovanadinite using PdI 2, an iodine source for the immobilisation of radioiodine
in RSC Advances

Lawrence Bright E
(2019)
Comparing the corrosion of uranium nitride and uranium dioxide surfaces with H2O2
in Journal of Nuclear Materials

Lawrence Bright E
(2019)
Synchrotron x-ray scattering of magnetic and electronic structure of UN and U 2 N 3 epitaxial films
in Physical Review B

Mason A
(2020)
Molten salt synthesis of Ce doped zirconolite for the immobilisation of pyroprocessing wastes and separated plutonium
in Ceramics International

Mason A
(2020)
Molten salt synthesis of Ce doped zirconolite for the immobilisation of pyroprocessing wastes and separated plutonium
in Ceramics International

O'Sullivan S
(2021)
Low-Temperature Nitridation of Fe 3 O 4 by Reaction with NaNH 2
in Inorganic Chemistry

Popel A
(2019)
Surface alteration evidence for a mechanism of anoxic dissolution of UO2
in Applied Surface Science
Description | Collaboration with China Nuclear Power Technology Research Institute. |
Organisation | China General Nuclear Power Group |
Department | China Nuclear Power Technology Research Institute |
Country | China |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | A collaboration has been established with the Accident Tolerant Fuels research group of the China Nuclear Power Technology Research Institute, focused on the basic science of accident tolerant nuclear fuel cladding performance. The UK partners will investigate the high temperature stability and corrosion behaviour using materials manufactured by the partner, in particular using surface sensitive spectroscopy techniques. The UK team plans to host an early career researcher from the partner to facilitate joint research. The UK team will also contribute to development of joint publications which will be publicly available through open access in a peer reviewed journal. |
Collaborator Contribution | The Accident Tolerant Fuels research group of the China Nuclear Power Technology Research Institute, will provide samples of candidate accident tolerant nuclear fuels manufactured by different methods for characterization by the UK partner. Additionally the partner organisation plans to second an early career researcher to the UK team to facilitate joint research. The partner organisation will also contribute to development of joint publications which will be publicly available through open access in a peer reviewed journal. |
Impact | The collaboration is between leading materials science research groups in the UK and China and is at an early stage, hence no publications or outputs to date. |
Start Year | 2019 |
Description | Collaboration with High-tech Ceramic Advanced Manufacturing Technology, Guangdong University of Technology. |
Organisation | Guangdong University of Technology |
Country | China |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | A collaboration has been established with the Center for High-tech Ceramic Advanced Manufacturing Technology, Guangdong University of Technology, focused on the basic science of accident tolerant nuclear fuel cladding performance. The UK partners will investigate the high temperature stability and corrosion behaviour using materials manufactured by the partner, in particular using surface sensitive spectroscopy techniques. The UK team plans to host an early career researcher from the partner to facilitate joint research. The UK team will also contribute to development of joint publications which will be publicly available through open access in a peer reviewed journal. |
Collaborator Contribution | The Center High-tech Ceramic Advanced Manufacturing Technology, Guangdong University of Technology, will provide samples of candidate accident tolerant nuclear fuels manufactured by different methods for characteisation by the UK partner. Additionally the partner organisation plans to second an early career researcher to the UK team to facilitate joint research. The partner organisation will also contribute to development of joint publications which will be publicly available through open access in a peer reviewed journal. |
Impact | The collaboration is between leading materials science research groups in the UK and China and is at an early stage, hence no publications or outputs to date. |
Start Year | 2019 |
Description | Collaboration with Laboratory of Structural Inorganic Chemistry, Hokkaido University |
Organisation | Hokkaido University |
Country | Japan |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | A collaboration has been established with the Laboratory of Structural Inorganic Chemistry, Hokkaido University, Japan, focused on the basic science of soft chemical synthesis of nitride compounds, relevant to accident tolerant nuclear fuels. The UK partners are investigating the mechanisms of soft chemical synthesis of metal nitrides and characterisation of the products. The UK team will also contribute to development of joint publications which will be publicly available through open access in a peer reviewed journal. |
Collaborator Contribution | The Laboratory of Structural Inorganic Chemistry, Hokkaido University, Japan, has provided expertise in the conventional synthesis of metal nitrides by ammonolysis and the analytical determination of N and O content on samples provided by the UK team. The Japan partner also hosted a UK researcher for one week to undertake practical training in ammonolysis synthesis. The partner organisation will also contribute to development of joint publications which will be publicly available through open access in a peer reviewed journal. |
Impact | The collaboration is multidisciplinary between leading materials science and chemistry research groups in the UK and Japan and is at an early stage, the first joint publication is in process. |
Start Year | 2019 |
Description | Washington State University at Pullman |
Organisation | Washington State University |
Country | United States |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Investigation and understanding of phase separation and crystallisation in glass-ceramics for immobilisation of high level radioactive waste from future fuel cycles. |
Collaborator Contribution | Investigation and understanding of phase separation and crystallisation in glass-ceramics for immobilisation of high level radioactive waste from future fuel cycles. |
Impact | See publications section. |
Start Year | 2015 |
Description | ATLANTIC Annual meeting |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | The 1st Annual meeting of the Atlantic Consortium took place over two days at the Imperial War Museum North in Manchester on the 21st & 22nd January 2020. Professor Bruce Hanson (PI of ATLANTIC) opened the proceedings by giving a general overview of the research programme. Presentations from ATLANTIC researchers, researchers working on related projects and the National Nuclear Laboratory generated much discussion, exchange of ideas and plans for further work. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
Description | ATLANTIC Kickoff meeting |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | The ATLANTIC consortium held its kick-off meeting on Wednesday 16th January 2019 at the University of Leeds. Academic researchers presented overviews of the various work packages within the research programme and outlined plans going forward |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | Invited Talk at Beihang University summer school at the University of Edinburgh |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | Invited talk to approximately 50 UG/PG students from Beihang University and University of Edinburgh staff members and PG students as part of their summer school hosted by the University of Edinburgh. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | Invited talk at IEEE University of Edinburgh student chapter |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | Invited talk at the IEEE student branch of the University of Edinburgh, attended by current and prospective IEEE members. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
Description | Newton Bhabha Fund Researcher Links Workshop "New Electrochemical Technologies for Sustainable Fuels, Chemicals and Industrial Processes" |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Invitation to and participation in Newton Bhabha Fund Researcher Links Workshop "New Electrochemical Technologies for Sustainable Fuels, Chemicals and Industrial Processes", Pune, India, December 2019. This was a workshop for early career researchers from the UK and India working in the area of electrochemistry and electrochemical engineering. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
URL | http://www.chem.gla.ac.uk/Electrotech2019/ |
Description | Presentation at TRANSCEND 1st Annual Meeting (Bath) |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Overview presentation on the ATLANTIC consortium. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | Royal Society Workshop on Nuclear Co-Generation |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
Results and Impact | Prof. Neil Hyatt was invited to participate in the Royal Society meeting on Nuclear Co-generation in recognition of his expertise in radioactive waste management developed through several EPSRC research projects, outcomes from which were highlighted in discussion contribution. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |