US-based Global Nuclear Fuel (GNF) has announced the introduction of GNF4, a next generation nuclear fuel product for boiling water reactor (BWR) units.
The company, a GE Vernova-led alliance with Hitachi, said the 11×11 GNF4 product builds upon the operating history of GNF2 and GNF3 and features two advanced components that are licensed by the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission: Ziron cladding and aluminosilicate doped uranium dioxide pellets.
fuel costs per megawatt hour through increased performance and reliability,” said Crai
Ziron cladding was developed to better resist corrosion, ensuring that fuel remains safe and reliable and is an enhancement to the Zircaloy 2 cladding that has been ued in more than 175,000 GNF fuel assemblies worldwide. Aluminosilicate doped uranium dioxide pellets add an extra layer of reliability. GNF4 will also use GNF’s proprietary NSF channel material and Defender+ debris filter.
NSF channel material is a distortion-resistant zirconium alloy primarily composed of zirconium, niobium, tin and iron. It is designed to reduce fuel channel distortion in BWRs.
“GNF4 is engineered to provide plant operators with lower fuel costs per megawatt hour through increased performance and reliability,” said Craig Ranson, installed base chief executive officer at GE Vernova Hitachi Nuclear Energy.
GNF4 is being fabricated at GNF’s manufacturing facility in Wilmington, North Carolina. The first lead use assemblies of GNF4 are contracted for deployment in 2026 and full reload quantities are expected to be available in 2030.