b'ATF Industry Teams: General AtomicsElectromagnetic Systems(GA-EMS) AccomplishmentsPrincipal Investigator: Ryan HonTeam Members/Collaborators: Structural Integrity Associates Inc., Constellation Energy GenerationThe Silicon CarbideT he Silicon Carbide (SiC)As lead on the program, GA-EMS Commercial Irradiationis designing, manufacturing, and program will facilitate a first- characterizing the irradiation (SiC) Commercialof-a-kind irradiation of GA-EMSvehicle and SiC test articles. GA-EMS Irradiation programSiGA silicon carbide compositeis subcontracting with Structural will accelerate(SiC-SiC) cladding in a commercialIntegrity, who is providing modeling commercializationnuclear reactor. The program willand licensing support. Constella-of GA-EMS SiGAcomplete the design, manufac- tion, as a partner, will provide a accident tolerant fuelturing, and preliminary licensingcommercial reactor to host the irra-cladding by facilitatingof an irradiation vehicle that willdiation as well as provide licensing a first-of-a-kindbe inserted into a commercialand analysis support. During the commercial irradiationpressurized water reactor (PWR) toexecution of the program, a fuel of SiGA claddingprovide SiC performance data thatvendor will be brought in to facili-in a commercialwill drive SiGA cladding develop- tate the physical insertion of the nuclear reactor. ment and commercialization. irradiation vehicle into the reactor Project Description: after program completion.The SiC Commercial IrradiationThis project is part of a larger programs objective is to completeSiC-SiC cladding development all of the necessary steps for aeffort at GA-EMS that includes follow-on irradiation of SiGAfunding via the Accident Tolerant cladding in a commercial PWR.Fuel (ATF) program, the Industry After completion of the program,Opportunities for Advanced SiGA test articles will undergo oneNuclear Technology Development cycle of irradiation before beingProgram, and internally funded removed and sent for post irradia- work. Data obtained following tion examination (PIE). The PIE willthis project will be combined and provide data on SiGA performancecorrelated with data obtained under prototypical PWR conditionsthrough irradiation of SiGA in including both corrosion and irra- test reactors to support follow on diation effects. This data, along withcommercial reactor irradiations. the lessons learned while designing,The project accelerates the develop-licensing, and implementing thement of SiC cladding which has the irradiation, will provide a basis forpotential to increase the safety and future insertion of lead test rods,economics of the current reactor lead tests assemblies, and commer- fleet due to its high-temperature cialization of SiGA cladding. Tostrength and irradiation stability.facilitate the irradiation, GA-EMS is working with Constellation to target a Spring 2025 reactor insertion.144 2023|AFC ACCOMPLISHMENTS'