Lead test assemblies with low enriched uranium (LEU+) fuel were inserted into Unit 2 of Alvin W. Vogtle Electric Generating Plant in Waynesboro, Ga., an industry first, according to Cranberry Township-based Westinghouse Electric Co.
The U.S. Department of Energy Accident Tolerant Fuel Program and the operator of Plant Vogtle, Southern Company subsidiary Southern Nuclear, supported the installment.
“We are proud to have achieved this milestone alongside the U.S Department of Energy and Southern Nuclear,” Tarik Choho, Westinghouse nuclear fuel president, said. “Our priority is to provide safe, reliable and high-performing fuel to support our customers in their long-term operational needs. LEU+ fuel is a perfect example of how we can help reduce the number of outages in nuclear power plants.”
LEU+ fuel that is enriched above 5 percent supports power uprates, extended fuel cycles, and reducing the number of outages needed for refueling which lowers the costs of nuclear power plant operations.
The fuel assemblies were manufactured at Westinghouse’s Columbia Fuel Fabrication Facility in Hopkins, S.C., for Vogtle Unit 2. Westinghouse provided its EnCore ATF Lead Test Assemblies with greater than 5 wt.% LEU+ ADOPT fuel, chromium coated cladding and AXIOM cladding.
Westinghouse’s portfolio includes multiple nuclear reactor types.