Built on the success of the NEA joint project Thermodynamic Characterisation of Fuel Debris and Fission Products Based on Scenario Analysis of Severe Accident Progression (TCOFF), the second project phase (TCOFF-2) focuses on improving the quality and inventory of thermodynamic databases used for severe accident (SA) analyses. This has been an important area of joint research efforts for the international nuclear community since 2011 in order to expand the use of SA codes to accident-tolerant fuels (ATFs) and control rods (ATCRs).
In this context, TCOFF-2 members met on 26-28 June 2023 to discuss the progress on establishing a scientific consensus on the priority materials systems. Held in hybrid format, the meeting also focused on the organisation of the call for research proposals which will invite NEA member organisations to submit their experimental proposals. TCOFF-2 will financially support selected projects for a maximum of two years to advance materials science knowledge in the field of severe accident, including ATFs and ATCRs behaviour and impact. The call for proposals will be announced in September 2023 and and the projects will be selected by the end of 2023.
During the meeting, TCOFF-2 members also exchanged views on the first results of the thermodynamic databases to simulate ATFs, the first implementations of SA codes modifications to include ATFs in the modelling, the definition of a database structure to centralise corium leaching results and the education and training activities that will be organised during TCOFF-2.
The next TCOFF-2 in-person meeting will take place in early 2024 in Cologne, Germany.
