b'a wide range of fuel compositions, enrichments, and even geometries without requiring detailed analyses for each specific fuel variant. Successful demonstration of the new facility would include development of an adequate mechanical design, detailed neutronic and thermal analyses, fabrication and assembly of initial test experiments, irradiation in HFIR, and postirradiation examination to confirm that the test was performed as expected.Accomplishments:The first MiniFuel experiments tested UN kernels and tri-structuralyear 2021. The 6 individual capsulesFigure 2. MiniFuel capsule isotropic (TRISO) coated particles atfrom the first irradiation targetcomponents (photography credit to were extracted from the target andCarlos Jones/ORNL, DOE).temperatures (500600C) relevant to light water reactors (LWRs). Thepunctured in the Oak Ridge National effects of carbon impurities, burnableLaboratory (ORNL) Irradiated Fuels absorbers, and density are beingExamination Laboratory (IFEL) to evaluated in the first irradiationmeasure fission gas release. The target, which completed irradiationkernels were then transferred to to a nominal burnup of 1% fissionthe Irradiated-Microsphere Gamma of initial metal atoms (FIMA) inAnalyzer facility within IFEL for November 2018. A second target withcareful extraction of the kernels a nominal burnup of 6% FIMA isand the passive silicon carbide scheduled for completion in calendartemperature monitors, which will 2019|AFC ACCOMPLISHMENTS 95'