American nuclear energy company has completed irradiation tests of its ANEEL fuel that combines thorium and uranium and could power existing nuclear reactors.
ANEEL , a new nuclear fuel made by combining thorium and enriched uranium, has successfully completed a multiyear irradiation test at the Advanced Test Reactor in the US.
Developed by Clean Core Thorium Energy , the fuel achieved more than 60 GWd/MTU of burnup, exceeding the typical discharge burnup of conventional nuclear reactors by more than eight times. Nuclear energy is poised for a major comeback as countries seek to meet rising energy demands while reducing carbon emissions. Since conventional nuclear power plants take years to build, startups have also been looking at smaller, modular reactors, which can be built quickly and at scale.
Chicago-headquartered CCTE, though, is taking a different approach, aiming to repurpose existing nuclear reactors with an entirely new fuel technology, ANEEL. Thorium is considered a better nuclear fuel alternative because it is abundant and produces less radioactive waste than uranium. CCTE’s ANEEL aims to deliver the advantages of both thorium and uranium while extending the operational life of existing reactors, such as pressurized heavy water reactors .
Irradiation test for ANEELThe Advanced Test Reactor at the Idaho National Laboratory in the US provides a test bed for new fuel technologies. The ATR can generate compact, high-flux irradiation conditions at an accelerated pace to simulate extended reactor operation to evaluate fuel behavior. In May 2024, 12 ANEEL rodlets were loaded into the ATR to reach target burnup rates of 20, 40, and 60 GWd/MTU.
Last year, eight of these rodlets completed the first two burnup targets, and the last set is now approaching the highest burnup target. This is designed to generate real-world performance data for the fuel under reactor conditions. Following a short cooling period, the rodlets are then transferred to INL’s Materials and Fuels Complex for post-irradiation examination .
The eight rodlets removed last year are currently undergoing PIE, which also provides details on the fuel microstructure and performance at high burnup levels. What happens next? The PIE results obtained so far have shown that ANEEL fuel performs well, maintaining structural integrity and favorable fission gas retention throughout irradiation.
“Surpassing 60 GWd/MTU of burnup in the Advanced Test Reactor marks an important milestone for the ANEEL fuel program,” said Mehul Shah, CEO of Clean Core Thorium Energy, in a press release. “This irradiation campaign provides meaningful performance data and demonstrates that thorium-HALEU fuel can achieve burnup levels comparable to those seen in PWR fuels while offering improved fuel utilization, enhanced safety characteristics, inherent proliferation resistance, and meaningful reductions in long-lived nuclear spent fuel radioisotopes.
”ANEEL fuel retains the geometry of existing fuels, such as 19- and 37-element designs used in PHWR and Canadian Deuterium Uranium reactors. This facilitates integration into existing reactors without any modifications to core design or systems.
“Our objective has been to introduce thorium into the nuclear fuel cycle in a practical way using existing reactors, and this milestone represents a significant step toward that goal,” added Shah in the press release. With PIE underway for its rodlets, CCTE is working on its next milestone – demonstration of ANEEL fuel in a commercial power reactor, which will pave the way for its commercial entry.
CCTE will work with INL and other industrial partners as it looks to power more nuclear reactors in the future.
Canadian Deuterium Uranium Reactors Clean Cire Thorium Energy Haleu Idaho National Laboratory Nuclear Fuel Nuclear Reactors Pressurized Hard Water Reactors Uranium
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Trump: American GangsterEdward Hunt writes about war and empire. He has a PhD in American Studies from the College of William & Mary.
Read more »
Printing presses as tools of protest — 250 years of an American traditionFrom fomenting colonial discontent with British rule in the 1700s to the No Kings rallies of today, posters spread messages and question authority. At the Boston Public Library, visitors are learning the art of making their own signs.
Read more »
How the unreported killing of an American by ICE shattered two Texas familiesJosh Orta was the sole witness of Ruben Martinez’s death to dispute the government’s account. Months later, he died in a crash after learning an ICE agent killed his friend. Their mothers blame the government for their loss.
Read more »
Exclusive – Michael Whatley: Gas Prices Would Be Much Worse If Trump Had Not Unleashed American EnergySource of breaking news and analysis, insightful commentary and original reporting, curated and written specifically for the new generation of independent and conservative thinkers.
Read more »
Ninajirachi Announces ‘I Love My Computer and It Loves Me’ North American TourNinajirachi reveals North American tour dates following her breakout debut album success.
Read more »
The Miami Grand Prix and American Express Team up on a Luxe F1 ExperienceThe Miami Grand Prix and American Express gave Formula 1 a big win after the motorsport series had to cancel two races.
Read more »