The EBR-II X501 minor actinide burning experiment

The X501 experiment was conducted in EBR-II as part of the integral fast reactor (IFR) program to demonstrate minor actinide (MA) burning through the use of a homogeneous recycle scheme. Renewed interest in the behavior of MA’s during fuel irradiation has prompted further examination of existing X501 data, and generation of new data where needed in support of the US waste transmutation effort. The X501 experiment is one of the few MA-bearing fuel irradiation tests conducted worldwide and knowledge can be gained by understanding the changes in fuel behavior due to addition of MA’s. Of primary interest are the affect of the MA’s on fuel-cladding-chemical-interaction, and the redistribution behavior of americium. The quantity of helium gas release from the fuel and any effects of helium on fuel performance are also of interest. This paper provides a summary of the X501 fabrication, characterization, irradiation, and postirradiation examination.