b'Status and Future for Integral Scale Fast Spectrum Fuel Pin IrradiationsPrincipal Investigator: Nick WoolstenhulmeTeam Members/ Collaborators: Bryon Curnutt, Joseph Nielsen, Kevan Weaver, Colby Jensen, and Austen FradeneckThe ARCTICD evelopment of advanced fuelsthe irradiation timescales needed to and materials for fast spec- support accelerated innovation cycles. experiment capabilitytrum nuclear reactors is anA new concept for overcoming these can bridge researchimmense challenge with tremendouschallenges was generated under the gaps, attract newpotential in maximizing the value ofAFC program in early 2020, but experimenters, andadvanced nuclear plants. Historicalbudget reductions caused cessation cultivate a rich area fordevelopments and modern materialsof new AFC irradiation designs. This development of fastshow promise for overcoming theseconcept was later proposed, awarded, spectrum fuels andchallenges, but the lack of fast neutronand investigated under the Idaho core materials. test capabilities in the western worldNational Laboratory (INL) Laboratory presently hamper meaningful progress.Directed Research and Development For years the Advanced Fuels Campaign(LDRD) program. Hence this scope (AFC) has led the charge by using anis technically an accomplishment existing thermal-spectrum reactor,funded outside of AFC in 2021 but is the Advanced Test Reactor (ATR), tosummarized here because the concept irradiate fuel technologies intendedwas originally generated under AFC for use in fast spectrum reactors. Thefunding, was performed by personnel so-called AFC-series irradiations usedwho are largely committed to the cadmium lined irradiation baskets tocampaign and has potential future filter thermal neutrons and achieve arelevance to the program.semi-representative neutron spectrumProject Description:to help flatten fuel slug radial powerThis project used modern modeling profiles to represent fast spectrum envi- to investigate a new method for fast ronments. This method was successfulneutron irradiations in ATR. This new but acknowledged for its inadequacymethod built upon past ideas, where in representing fast neutron damagefast flux is increased by surrounding in cladding, supporting full scalethe specimens with fissionable booster specimens, and generally in achievingfuel, but diverges from historical 128 2021|AFC ACCOMPLISHMENTS'