Ontario Tech University Receives Federal Funding for Nuclear Fuel Research

Ontario Tech University will receive close to $5 million from Natural Resources Canada for a multi-year study on nuclear fuel safety and storage. The funding is provided through the federal Enabling Small Modular Reactors program and supports the Safety Assessment and Fuel Evaluation of Tri-Structural ISOtropic (TRISO) (SAFE-T) project.

Natural Resources Canada announced Ontario Tech University as one of several partners in the SAFE-T project, with research focused on the evaluation and management of spent TRISO nuclear fuel used in Small Modular Reactors. The project is led at Ontario Tech by Dr. Kirk Atkinson from the Department of Energy and Nuclear Engineering. Partner institutions include Western University, McMaster University, York University, and Canadian Nuclear Laboratories, according to the university and Natural Resources Canada.

Researchers at Ontario Tech will analyze TRISO fuel, which features uranium kernels coated with three protective layers. The university states its team will use non-destructive imaging and advanced evaluation techniques to assess spent TRISO fuel and Mark II used fuel containers. The project includes development of 3D activity maps intended to help handlers assess irradiated fuel before long-term storage.

Ontario Tech’s Centre for Small Modular Reactors and Brilliant Energy Institute are participating in the project. According to Ontario Tech University, the Brilliant Energy Institute will work with project partners and Indigenous communities to facilitate communication and incorporate social and cultural considerations into the research.