Tag: LANL – HALEU – criticality – experiment

LANL Scientists Achieve Milestone with HALEU Criticality Experiment

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Advancing Nuclear Safety and Design

The Deimos experiment at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) represents a groundbreaking achievement as the first criticality experiment using high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) fuel conducted in the USA in over two decades. This criticality experiment will provide essential public data and benchmarks for HALEU, a material increasingly vital for advanced nuclear reactors.

Criticality benchmarks are fundamental for nuclear safety evaluations and design processes required by industry and regulatory authorities. However, benchmarks specifically for HALEU remain scarce. To address this, the US Department of Energy (DOE) and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) are actively collaborating to develop criticality data. In August, the DOE allocated $17 million to 16 projects focused on creating public data and benchmarks for HALEU’s use, storage, and transportation.

Key Objectives of the Deimos Experiment

The Deimos experiment, funded by LANL’s Laboratory Directed Research and Development program, was conducted at the National Criticality Experiments Research Center at the Nevada National Security Site. This unique facility, equipped with four critical experiment machines, is the only general-purpose criticality experiments center in the USA capable of handling fissionable materials at or near criticality.

To carry out the experiment, researchers modified one of the critical assembly machines to include a new graphite core and specialized “cups” designed to hold HALEU-based fuel pellets containing TRISO (tri-structural isotropic) particles. The experiment achieved criticality and then underwent testing at room temperature and at over 200°F (93.3°C). These tests generated valuable criticality safety data specific to HALEU fuels.

Paving the Way for Advanced Nuclear Reactors

LANL Program Manager for Nuclear Energy, Chris Stanek, emphasized the experiment’s significance: “The Deimos experiment is an important step towards deploying HALEU-fueled nuclear reactors. We are excited and proud to leverage LANL’s unique capabilities to advance the nation’s goals for advanced reactors. Future experiments enabled by Deimos will continue to drive innovation.”

HALEU is critical for next-generation reactors, allowing for compact designs, longer operational cycles, and enhanced efficiency compared to traditional nuclear technologies. The data gathered from the Deimos experiment will support ongoing DOE and NRC efforts to close critical data gaps, ensuring safer and more efficient reactor designs.

Bridging Critical Knowledge Gaps

The results of this experiment, along with other DOE-funded HALEU projects, will be made publicly available to facilitate nuclear industry advancements. By providing reliable benchmarks and data, the Deimos experiment will streamline the design and safety reviews for future reactors, fostering innovation across the sector.

The Road Ahead

As advanced reactor designs increasingly rely on HALEU for superior performance, experiments like Deimos play a vital role in addressing key challenges and ensuring safe deployment. By generating essential criticality safety data, this initiative positions the USA to lead in the global development of advanced nuclear technologies.