BWXT launches advanced nuclear fuel subsidiary

"BWXT Advanced Fuels focuses on ensuring the availability of BWXT-manufactured nuclear fuel on a commercial scale by leveraging its more than 20 years of experience manufacturing TRISO fuel at its Lynchburg facility," BWX Technologies (BWXT) said.

TRISO - short for tri-structural isotropic - fuel comprises spherical kernels of enriched uranium fuel surrounded by layers of carbon and silicon carbide, giving a containment for fission products which is stable up to very high temperatures, and is the preferred fuel in several advanced reactor designs currently under development.

"Given the significant investments, expertise and ready-to-manufacture capabilities in advanced nuclear fuels, BWXT is leaning in to lead fuel supply for multiple advanced reactor developers," Joe Miller, BWXT president for Government Operations, said.

The company has recently completed the designing and manufacturing of TRISO fuel for the US Department of Defense Strategic Capabilities Office's Pele programme to develop, prototype and demonstrate transportable 1.5 MW gas-cooled reactors.

BWXT Advanced Fuels is led by Senior Director Josh Parker, who said the new company is already working to deliver the fuel for the first advanced reactors "as well as optimising the TRISO manufacturing process for the future to ensure that we can successfully drive down costs to meet the demand of industry and energy end-users".

BWXT said it is manufacturing TRISO on a commercial scale "and will be prepared ahead of the ramp in new product deliveries to meet customer demand". The company's TRISO optimisation programme is located at the BWXT Innovation Campus in Lynchburg, Virginia, and It is exploring opportunities to expand its TRISO production capability through the establishment of a new greenfield fabrication facility to meet the demand of the growing advanced reactor market.