US seeks inspiration from nature for next-gen nuclear fuel design

Scientists at Idaho National Laboratory (INL) are pioneering a novel approach to nuclear fuel design by drawing inspiration from nature’s mathematics, specifically triply periodic minimal surfaces (TPMS). These complex, repeating lattice structures, found naturally in butterfly wings and sea urchin shells, offer highly efficient geometries that can enhance heat transfer in nuclear fuel. INL’s concept, called the Intertwined Nuclear Fuel Lattice for Uprated heat eXchange (INFLUX), replaces traditional solid cylindrical fuel rods with a TPMS-based lattice. This design increases surface area contact with coolant, enabling more efficient heat removal and potentially leading to safer, more compact, and higher-performing nuclear reactors. Recent laboratory tests involving 3D-printed electrically conductive models of the INFLUX lattice demonstrated that the TPMS geometry transfers heat about three times more efficiently than conventional fuel rods. This improvement could allow for thinner fuel, lower operating temperatures, and reduced thermal stress, enhancing reactor performance and economics. Manufacturing challenges remain due