All About Uranium Fuel

Today, we talk uranium nuclear fuel. I spoke with MIT's Professor Koroush Shirvan, who rejoins me after our first interview on Small Modular Reactors. Now, we dive into the hidden complexities of nuclear fuels. From early fuel experiments that saw uranium rods turn into spaghetti-like structures under neutron bombardment to the intricate economics shaping the future of fuels like TRISO, Shirvan offers clear insights into the realities behind nuclear power’s remarkable yet challenging fuel technologies. Keep watching to discover how history shaped today's dominant fuel choices, why accident-tolerant innovations are critical, and about the economic realities that could either launch or limit the nuclear renaissance. Episode title on podcast platforms: "Fuel for Thought" Listen to Koroush's previous Decouple appearance:    • Small Modular Reactors Are Bulking Up   Listen to Decouple on: • Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6PNr3ml... • Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... • Overcast: https://overcast.fm/itunes1516526694/... • Pocket Casts: https://pca.st/ehbfrn44 • RSS: https://anchor.fm/s/23775178/podcast/rss Website: https://www.decouple.media Chapters: 00:00 Introduction 03:05 Historical Evolution and Energy Density 09:44 Chemistry and Complexity of Nuclear Fuel 14:15 Why Uranium Oxide Dominates 21:09 Fuel Cladding Explained 29:23 Accidents and Fuel Failures 35:24 Challenges in Fuel Development 40:41 TRISO Fuel: Past, Present, and Potential 50:30 Economics of HALEU 01:05:37 Comparative Costs and Future Realities