ML26035A288
| ML26035A288 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | 99902041 |
| Issue date: | 02/12/2026 |
| From: | Ngola Otto Licensing Processes Branch |
| To: | Damaris Marcano Licensing Processes Branch |
| References | |
| EPID L-2025-NTM-0006 | |
| Download: ML26035A288 (0) | |
Text
February 12, 2026 MEMORANDUM TO:
Damaris Marcano, Chief Licensing Projects Branch Division of Operating Reactor Licensing Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation FROM:
Ngola A. Otto, Project Manager
/RA/
Licensing Projects Branch Division of Operating Reactor Licensing Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
SUBJECT:
SUMMARY
OF SEPTEMBER 23-24, 2025, FRAMATOME INC. FUEL PERFORMANCE UPDATE MEETING EPID: L-2025-NTM-0006 On September 23-24, 2025, a closed hybrid meeting was held between the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff and representatives of Framatome Inc. (Framatome) in Lynchburg, Virginia, and virtually on Teams to discuss proprietary information regarding Framatome fuel performance and plans. The NRC staff also participated in several tours of Framatome facilities in Lynchburg, Virginia, including the Technical Training Center, Instrumentation and Controls Lab, Incore Product Center, Nuclear Parts Center & SAFER Control Facility, Pump & Motor Service Center, Spray-in-Place Liner Solutions Facility, and Chemistry Facility as part of the 2-day meeting. During the discussions, Framatome representatives provided the NRC staff with updates on both pressurized water reactor (PWR) and boiling water reactor (BWR) fuel types and on current and planned improvements at its Richland, Washington site and fuel manufacturing facility.
Throughout the interactions, Framatome representatives addressed the NRC staff questions and provided valuable information on the fuel performance and other topics which are discussed below. The overall topic areas include fuel designs, operating experience, fuel performance, advanced codes and methods, Advanced Fuel Management (AFM), Enhanced Accident Tolerant Fuel (EATF), Advanced Reactor Projects, increased enrichment rulemaking, realistic small break loss-of-coolant accident, and regulatory improvements.
Regarding BWR fuel designs, Framatome representatives provided an update on operating experience, fuel performance, and cause of failure campaigns, benefits of the ATRIUM 11 design, plan for Post-Irradiation Examinations (PIE), design improvements, and 3-dimensional manufacturing of upper tie plate grids.
CONTACT: Ngola A. Otto, NRR/DORL 301-415-6695
For fuel performance, discussions focused on the status of fuel reliability, leaker updates, fuel inspection improvements, BWR fuel product line designs, design materials, debris mitigation, and PIEs. Framatome representatives concluded the following regarding the BWR fuel performance:
Framatome is transitioning all customers towards the ATRIUM 11 design because of better performance, specifically with respect to debris mitigation.
BWR fuel reliability and performance shows that there are no BWR leakers in operation with Framatome fuel.
PIEs indicate that Advanced manufacturing will help achieve updated design not manufacturable with convention machining processes and validates ATRIUM 11 performance.
The Framatome representatives also provided an update on the BWR advanced codes and methods and how they support its AFM program. The discussion focused on the BWR approved methods, current methodologies, those under review, and future planned submittals. An overview of the submittals related to Framatomes AFM program was also provided. At the end of the BWR discussion, the Framatome representatives provided an update on planned topical report (TR) submittals and expected license amendment requests (LARs).
Regarding PWR fuel designs, performance, and operating experience, Framatome representatives provided an update on key aspects of current PWR fuel product, GAIA program, overall performance of Framatomes PWR designs, EATF PROtect, PWR healthy fuel examinations and results of recent surveillance campaigns, and anticipated healthy fuel examinations.
For the PWR fuel designs, details were provided for the High Thermal Performance (HTP) fuel, cladding, overall features, irradiation experience, GAIA design features and irradiation experience. For the PWR fuel performance summary, Framatome concluded that:
HTP and GAIA continue to demonstrate improved performance over predecessor designs All US PWR customers have transitioned to advanced M5 cladding with low oxidation, growth, and hydrogen pickup GAIA and Westinghouse 15-HTP designs have incorporated low growth Q12 guide tubes. Combustion Engineering 16-HTP at Palo Verde will include Q12 guide tubes in 2026 Framatome is successfully implementing next-generation PWR products (via lead fuel assembly programs) incorporating proven and effective design features Framatome is committed to resolving conditions adverse to fuel reliability Framatomes active PIE program continues to validate the successful performance of Framatome PWR fuel products Similar to the BWR discussion, an update on the PWR advanced codes and methods and how they support the AFM program was provided. The discussion focused on the PWR approved methods, current methodologies, those under review, and future planned submittals. At the end of the PWR discussion, the Framatome representatives provided an update on planned TR report submittals and associated expected LARs.
In addition, planned updates for the Richland fuel fabrication facility to support the AFM project were provided. Including a detailed overview of its ongoing and planned projects at the Richland site that supports advanced reactors. These include High-assay low enriched uranium dry conversion, Tri-structural Isotropic manufacturing, metallization demonstration, and advanced fuel manufacturing. Framatome also indicated that its AFM program supports 24-month core designs on Westinghouse 17x17 four loop PWRs with increased enrichment greater than 5 percent of uranium (U)-235 and with increased burnup greater than 62 gigawatt days per metric ton.
A list of the attendees is enclosed. The Framatome presentation materials can be found in the Agencywide Documents Access and Management System at Accession Package No. ML26029A202.
Docket No. 99902041
Enclosure:
As stated
Enclosure List of Attendees Closed Hybrid Fuel Performance Update Meeting with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission and Framatome Inc.
September 23, 2025 8:30 am - 4:00 pm Eastern Standard Time September 24, 2025 8:30 am - 3:00 pm Eastern Standard Time NAME ORGANIZATION Buck Barner Framatome Inc. (Framatome)
Phillippe Bellenger Framatome Marty Bickford Framatome George Borum Framatome Greg Borza Framatome Paul Clifford Framatome Pat Crane Framatome Tanner Davis Framatome Gayle Elliott Framatome Tom Galioto Framatome Lisa Gerken Framatome Michelle Guzzardo Framatome Brian Haibach Framatome Ryne Hevener Framatome Jerry Holm Framatome Nathan Hottle Framatome Gannon Johnson Framatome Steve Lydzinski Framatome Jason Medina Framatome NAME ORGANIZATION Alan Meginnis Framatome Chris Robinson Framatome Jacoben Tone Framatome Brian Vance Framatome Dmitri Ziabletsev Framatome Noushin Amini Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)
Andrew Bielen NRC James Corson NRC Vic Cusumano NRC Jeremy Dean NRC Nick DiFrancisco NRC Hossein Esmaili NRC Richard Fu NRC Kevin Heller NRC Scott Krepel NRC Lucas Kyriazidis NRC John Lehning NRC Zhian Li NRC Joseph Messina NRC Jennifer Rankin NRC Aida Rivera-Varona NRC River Rohrman NRC Jack Vande Polder NRC Jennifer Wagner NRC Jen Whitman NRC Brandon Wise NRC
ML26029A202 (Package)
ML26035A288 (Summary)
ML26029A301 (Presentation - Proprietary)
ML26029A266 (Presentation - Non-Proprietary)
- via email OFFICE NRR/DORL/LLPB/PM*
NRR/DORL/LLPB/LA*
NRR/DORL/LLPB/BC*
NRR/DORL/LLPB/PM*
NAME NOtto DHarrison DMarcano NOtto DATE 2/4/2026 2/9/2026 2/9/2026 2/12/2026