NuScale Starts Nuclear Fuel Research Using Artificial Intelligence

The NuScale Power Corporation will partner with Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) to introduce the artificial intelligence (AI) for design of nuclear facilities. The experts will strategically explore how fuel could be even more efficiently and effectively managed for a 12-NuScale Power Module™ (NPM) configuration at a single site.

Methods for optimizing the management of nuclear fuel for a single reactor are well-known. As part of this study, NuScale will partner with ORNL to use the power of AI to explore potential options for reducing fuel costs across multiple reactors.

The NuScale’s multi-module architecture contributes to the enhancement of fuel efficiency in a 12-NuScale Power Module™ (NPM) configuration due to single shared spent fuel pool and significant number of fuel options.

By sharing fuel across modules, NuScale may find ways to improve overall plant fuel efficiencies beyond what can be normally achieved in a single reactor plant, ultimately reducing costs. ORNL will share their expertise in AI, machine learning, fuel management, and computational resources to help drive this important research.

Based on NuScale data