Field Report: Discover pragmatic examples of customer benefits
Outage Optimization - brochure
"Nuclear: energy for today and tomorrow" ad-information
Fuel, the heart of nuclear fission
AREVA, European leader in nuclear fuel
MOX for peace
Recycling and new reactors: AREVA advantages
"The keys to nuclear energy" ad-information
"Voyage au cœur de l'énergie" educational booklet [FR]
Optimizing the use of uranium in the reactor
AREVA's fuel assemblies combine high performance with reliability. The group's expertise in engineering and its in-depth knowledge of zirconium alloys make all the difference.
The fuel assemblies are aimed at all types of boiling and pressurized light water reactors.
These very high technology products are the subject of constant research and development. They have been designed to optimize the use of enriched uranium under increasingly demanding operating conditions.
The ATRIUM™ product range for boiling water reactors, AGORA™, HTP™, AFA 3G™ for pressurized water reactors and Harmoni rod cluster control assemblies all have very high irradiation performance and are renowned for their good reliability.
The design of the structures and sheathing are optimized to fit the reactor model and the operating conditions envisaged by our customers.
M5™ zirconium alloy for the best performance
The rods and associated structures are made out of zirconium alloy sheath designed by AREVA, known as M5™.
The use of this alloy is a significant advantage for product quality. Its corrosion resistance and its very low hydrogen intake play a key role in improved performance.
An integrated production line
- Optimized designs: high burnup fraction in assemblies using M5™; high thermo-hydraulic performance; significant product controllability; robust behavior under irradiation in components and structures.
- High-quality products: AREVA’s expertise covers every aspect of the fuel production and manufacture, from zirconium technology to the finished assembly, via powder metallurgy and fuel pellets. The production line integration is a guarantee of our product stability.
- A secure supply: thanks to the global network of our manufacturing sites.
- Unparalleled experience: with more than 155,000 assemblies (or more than 30 million rods) supplied worldwide to date, AREVA benefits from feedback in the design-fabrication of assemblies which constantly supports our product improvement process.
Modeling for better design.
The development and implementation of powerful phenomenological modeling tools for the behavior of assemblies in the reactor have contributed to the improved design of assemblies (grids, anti-debris measures, end pieces, etc.).
