TRISO Fuel Manufactured In Canada for the First Time

The Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL) announced the manufacturing of TRISO fuel for the first time in Canada. Typically, TRISO – or TRi-Structural ISOtropic particle fuel is made of a uranium, carbon, and oxygen fuel kernel. Three layers of carbon and ceramic material encapsulate the kernel, preventing the release of any radioactive fission products. The CNL was focused on developing fully ceramic microencapsulated (FCM) fuel pellets. This type of fuel has a better resistance to things that impact regular fuel performance like corrosion and oxidation. 

CNL fabricated a new proprietary advanced fuel pellet for use in the Micro Modular Reactor used by Ultra Safe Nuclear Corporation (USNC). The use of this new TRISO fuel will help accelerate deployment of USNC’s micro and small modular reactors (SMR) around Canada. 

The Canadian Nuclear Research Initiative (CNRI) was started in 2019 and aimed to help support the development of technology needed to accelerate the SMR industry. CNRI funded the research and development of these proprietary TRISO fuel pellets, giving the SMR industry access to a much needed component. The micro modular reactor is a high temperature reactor and uses helium to transfer heat from the core to a molten salt system. The TRISO pellets, which fuel the core, enable higher temperature output in the reactor and improves performance.