CANFLEX

CANFLEX is an advanced fuel bundle designed for CANDU design nuclear reactors. Its name is derived from its function: CANDU FLEXible fueling. It was developed by Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd. (AECL), along with the Korean Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI). The designers claim that it will deliver many benefits to current and future CANDU reactors-using natural uranium or other advanced nuclear fuel cycles. These include greater operating and safety margins, extended plant life, better economics and increased power.

CANFLEX is an advanced fuel bundle designed for CANDU design nuclear reactors. Its name is derived from its function: CANDU FLEXible fueling. It was developed by Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd. (AECL), along with the Korean Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI). The designers claim that it will deliver many benefits to current and future CANDU reactors-using natural uranium or other advanced nuclear fuel cycles. These include greater operating and safety margins, extended plant life, better economics and increased power. ==Features== The CANFLEX bundle has 43 fuel elements, with two element sizes. It is about 10 cm (four inches) in diameter, 0.5 m (20 inches) long and weighs about 20 kg (44 lbs) and replaces 37-pin standard bundle. It has been designed specifically to increase fuel performance by utilizing two different pin diameters. This reduces the power rating of the hottest pins in the bundles, for the same total bundle power output. Also, the design incorporates special geometry modifications that enhance the heat transfer between the fuel and surrounding coolant. Twenty-four of these fuel bundles have been tested in the Point Lepreau CANDU 6 reactor in New Brunswick, Canada, and results indicate CANFLEX meets all expectations and regulatory requirements. To achieve this, the CANFLEX bundle uses two concentric rings of smaller-diameter rods (11.5 mm) surrounding a core of slightly larger rods (13.5 mm), giving it a flatter radial power distribution and lowering peak linear power by approximately 20% compared to the 37-element design. The geometry includes CHF-enhancement appendages, CANLUB graphite coatings on the inside of the fuel sheaths to reduce pellet-cladding interaction, and optimized spacer and bearing pad designs to improve heat transfer and hydraulic stability. The result is an increase in critical heat flux (CHF) and a 4–5% higher critical channel power, improving dryout margins and enhancing reactor safety. The CANFLEX bundle is fully compatible with existing CANDU reactor channels and fueling machines, requiring no changes to reactor hardware or refueling systems, making it a true “drop-in” replacement for current fuel designs. Its flexibility also allows operation with a wide range of fuel types—natural uranium (CANFLEX-NU), slightly enriched uranium (CANFLEX-SEU), recovered uranium from LWR spent fuel (CANFLEX-RU), and low-void-reactivity fuel (CANFLEX-LVRF). ==See also== Nuclear fuel Nuclear fuel cycle Uranium market Reprocessed uranium Global Nuclear Energy Partnership ==References== ==Further reading== Development of CANFLEX-NU Fuel as a CANDU Advanced Fuel

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