Assessing the Impact of Improved Thermal Conductivity of UO ₂ -Mo Fuel Using the ENIGMA Fuel Performance Code

Composite ceramic-metallic (cermet) fuels, such as UO2-Mo, have gained attention as advanced alternatives to traditional UO2 fuel, primarily due to their potential to address the issue of poor thermal conductivity in UO2. This poor thermal conductivity can lead to challenges like elevated fuel temperatures, increased fission gas release (FGR), and heightened clad hoop strain. UO2-Mo composite fuel offers a potential solution by incorporating molybdenum to significantly enhance thermal conductivity and mitigate these issues.