Finer fuel efficiency

Purdue University nuclear engineers have developed an advanced nuclear fuel that could save millions of dollars annually by lasting longer and burning more efficiently than conventional fuels. The researchers have also created a mathematical model to further develop the technology.

New findings regarding the research will be detailed in a peer-reviewed paper to be presented on Oct. 6 during the 11th International Topical Meeting on Nuclear Reactor Thermal Hydraulics in Avignon, France. The paper was written by Shripad Revankar, an associate professor of nuclear engineering; former graduate student Ryan Latta, now an engineer at Brookhaven National Laboratory; and Alvin A. Solomon, a professor of nuclear engineering.

The research focuses on developing nuclear fuels that are better at conducting heat than conventional fuels. Current nuclear fuel is made of uranium dioxide with a small percentage of a uranium isotope, uranium-235, which is essential to induce the nuclear fission reactions inside current reactors.