b'4.3 REFABRICATION AND INSTRUMENTATIONRefabrication/Reinstrumentation Capability DevelopmentPrincipal Investigator: Jason SchuthessTeam Members/Collaborators: Spencer Parker, Justin Yarrington, Clayton Turner, William Chuirazzi, Colby Jensen, Mark ColeT he Halden Reactor Projectcorrosion. Specific segments of these (HRP) was, until the recentmaterials can then be selected for closure, a key resource forsubsequent testing under steady-assessing nuclear fuel and mate- state, transient, or ramp conditions. rials behaviors to address issuesRefabrication also allows instru-and answer regulatory questionsmentation (e.g., thermocouples) supporting the light-water reactorto be added to these segments community. HRP included signifi- to measure parameters, such as cant experimental capabilities andtemperature and fission gas release.knowledgeable staff developed over decades to perform this challengingProject Descriptionwork. Refabrication and reinstru- The overall objective of this mentation are considered enablingprogram is to develop the capa-capabilities that allow access tobilities necessary to refabricate and fuel materials at any point in theirreinstrument previously irradiated respective lifecycles. They are alsomaterials. Figure 1 illustrates the critical in supporting the deploy- distinction between classic refab-ment and qualification of accidentrication activities and advanced tolerant fuel materials. As manyreinstrumentation. With closure candidate materials are alreadyof the HRP, these capabilities must undergoing irradiation as lead testbe replaced and/or improved upon rods in commercial nuclear powerwhere feasible to support future plants, irradiation in the Advancednuclear fuel qualification needs. Test Reactor at Idaho NationalSpecifically, some of the objectives Laboratory (INL) alone cannotand capabilities include:produce the quantities of materials Development of dry drilling tech-necessary to support qualification.niques in ceramic UO 2fuel pelletsRefabrication and reinstrumenta-Development of fuel rod end caps tion allow for the use of the lead testfor centerline instrumentationrod materials that have been irradi-Development of remote welding ated under prototypic commercialsystems for end cap installation, conditions. These conditionspressurization, and leak checkinginclude localized phenomena like Attachment of instrumentation to fretting, grid spacer effects, andfuel rodlets.204 2023|AFC ACCOMPLISHMENTS'