Host: The Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers
Name : The 30th International Conference on Nuclear Engineering (ICONE30)
Date : May 21, 2023 - May 26, 2023
Compared with the standard UO2-Zr system, accident-tolerant fuel (ATF) can improve the margin of safety in extreme conditions, and therefore it is one of the most promising nuclear fuels for future reactors. Combined with technological and commercial information, patents are an important source of knowledge, and provide essential information relating to the policies and development focus within the technology subject. This paper studied the globally published patents relating to ATF. The leading applicants, their geographic distribution, and the technology focus were extensively investigated. The results showed that China and the USA were both the primary target markets and the primary technology origin countries. Approximately 40% of ATF patents were related to fuel cladding, and the remainder were related to fuel pellets. In terms of fuel cladding, zirconium (Zr)-based alloys with protective coatings were the predominant technological focus. For fuel pellets, fully ceramic microencapsulated (FCM) fuel was the predominant research topic. Each patent applicant utilized alternative approaches to patenting strategies. This paper significantly enhances the understanding of advanced developments in ATF-related technology by analyzing patents from an alternative perspective. These results will assist with decisions relating to the future of ATF.
