US project funded to test long-lasting nuclear fuel for small, remote reactor

Scientists at Missouri Science and Technology University, in collaboration with Oak Ridge National Laboratory, are working on a US Department of Energy-funded project to evaluate high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) fuel for long-term use in small modular and microreactors. The project, led by Dr. Ayodeji Alajo, aims to establish HALEU's safety, efficiency, and performance under various conditions to support reactor design and regulatory processes. Funding of $1 million will facilitate research on the Missouri S&T Reactor, which operates on HALEU, to generate critical benchmark-quality data. Ultimately, this research could contribute to international guidelines on nuclear fuel safety and operations.