Contract
The project aims to develop high-temperature gas-cooled reactor (HTGR) fuel in accordance with the technical and functional specifications for Jimmy’s fuel manufacturing plant in le Creusot, France. NUKEM was responsible for designing and integrating the corresponding fuel manufacturing process.
PBMR Ltd contracted NUKEM to develop the design of a fuel fabrication plant to produce spherical fuel elements for high temperature reactor (HTR) at Pelindaba site and support the customer during procurement, installation and commissioning stages.
Description
Jimmy Energy is developing and implementing small modular reactors based on HTGR fuel technology to supply high-temperature heat for industrial applications. The small-reactor concept under development uses fuel compacts embedded in graphite blocks. The associated fuel fabrication facility is designed to manufacture fuel compacts containing uranium enriched to 19.75% U-235, also known as HALEU. Within the framework of several partnerships for the production of TRISO fuel compacts, the initial focus is on engineering the HTGR fuel production process. The project between Jimmy Energy and NUKEM was carried out in two phases between 2022 and 2025.
The project is split in two phases: Phase I: Basic Design of the facility, including main processes: fabrication of kernel, fuel spheres and matrix material, uranium production and management of effluents. Phase I was completed with development of HAZOP II. Phase II: Detail Design of the facility covering the above processes. The project was suspended in 2010 for economic reasons.
Services
NUKEM provided basic and detailed design services for the final fuel production process. This included preparing technical specifications for fuel production plant equipment and developing technical inquiry packages for long-lead items. NUKEM also advised Jimmy on the licensing process throughout the project and on nuclear safety-related matters.
NUKEM provided the following services: Process definition, Basic and Detail Design for the aforementioned processes Criticality analysis and safe geometric configuration of equipment Completion of HAZOP II Preparation of a licencing package Development of the procurement specification for the equipment that fall within NUKEM's scope of supply In addition, NUKEM was contracted to provide support to PBMR Ltd with design and development of a new coating facility to close the gap between the production of kernels and fuel spheres.
