Accelerated EBR-II Processing

High assay low enriched uranium (HALEU) recovered from the treatment of irradiated EBR-II fuel has been identified as a potential source of supply for advanced reactor designs requiring HALEU fuels. Additional EBR-II driver fuel is being treated and the previously processed approximately 4MT inventory of HALEU in the traditional ingot form is being recast and converted to reguli.  In 2019, the EBR-II fuel treatment process was altered to provide the recovered HALEU uranium in a form having a lower radiological dose and smaller physical size (described as “reguli”) to accommodate glovebox-based fuel fabrication scenarios.

In FY 2019, fuel treatment operations were expanded to 7 days per week, 12 hours per day.  In 2024, treatment operations of EBR-II driver fuel will be increased from 7x12 to 7x24 to sustain the production rate when the existing inventory previously recovered HALEU in ingot form has completed the recasting operation.

INL has generated more than 5.1 MT of HALEU metal from used HEU EBR-II fuel. As of September 2023, more than 1300 kgs are in regulus form and ready to be used as a feedstock for fabricating advanced reactor fuel applications most closely aligned with fast spectrum designs. A cumulative quantity approaching 2.0 MT targeted for availability by end of 2023.