AREVA unveils fuel assemblies with latest debris-filter design

AREVA BWR fuel-assembly debris filter
AREVA BWR fuel-assembly debris filter | Courtesy of AREVA Inc.

AREVA NP said this week that its latest batch of ATRIUM 10XM fuel assemblies for boiling-water reactors (BWR) features its third-generation FUELGUARD debris filter (3GFG).

“The 3GFG is our most robust and efficient debris filter,” Ron Land, senior vice president of AREVA’s fuel business line for the U.S., said. “Its innovative refinements are designed to eliminate the risk of residual-debris damage and help nuclear energy facilities ensure operational excellence with reliable fuel performance.”

The filter is a standard component in the company’s ATRIUM 11 fuel assembly units, which were first used in a U.S. reactor last year. It has since been modified to work with ATRIUM 10XM units as well. The filter itself keeps debris and other potentially harmful material from affecting the efficiency of fuel rods.

This line of filters has been available globally since 2009 and has been included in approximately 4,500 assemblies for BWRs. The company said these filters have been utilized in 33 reactors globally.

AREVA specializes in multiple areas of the global nuclear industry, including design and manufacturing of fuel assemblies, components and management services.