CHARACTERIZATION, POST-IRRADIATION EXAMINATION, FUEL FABRICATION
The Analytical Research Laboratories (ARL) at
Idaho National Laboratory's Materials and Fuels
Complex provide the chemical, radiochemical, physical and analytical data needed for various research and engineering development programs, and for applied research and engineering
development activities supporting advanced
nuclear fuel design, waste management, environmental and other INL programs.
The laboratories receive samples from across INL, as well as outside entities. These samples include irradiated and unirradiated fuels and materials, and samples needed for testing related
to material accountability, radiation monitoring, process monitoring and environmental monitoring. The laboratories
also support engineering development activities such as the preparation of samples for irradiation testing.
The main features and equipment in the labs' A-wing include six interconnected hot cells, gloveboxes, a chemistry laboratory, a 5-ton overhead bridge crane and other cask handling equipment. The primary features of the B-wing include state-ofthe-art analytical instrumentation, general chemistry laboratories, air and inert atmosphere gloveboxes, fume hoods, counting rooms and assay equipment.
The ARL maintain equipment typical of a standard chemistry laboratory, including furnaces, X-ray diffractometers
and equipment to test fundamental physical properties. The laboratories also host several unique fuel fabrication capabilities in the Casting Laboratory, including the INL-designed glovebox advanced casting system (GACS) furnace.This furnace casts metallic fuel samples containing transuranic elements with greater efficiency and less
waste than previous designs.
Technical Information
The mission of the ARL is to perform chemical, radiochemical and physical measurements, provide nondestructive analysis measurements and conduct applied research and engineering development activities that support advanced reactor design, waste management, environmental and other programs at MFC and INL. Our mission is accomplished through a broad range of analytical chemistry capabilities.
The ARL receive a variety of samples from across INL, as well as from outside entities. Sample types include
liquids, solids, gases and irradiated/unirradiated fuels/materials related to research and development activities,
material accountability, radiation monitoring, process monitoring and environmental
monitoring. The labs also support engineering development and testing activities by creating unique standards and
preparing samples for irradiation testing. ARL scientists possess a broad range of
expertise as outlined below.
Basic Capabilities:
Analysis and characterization of as-built and post-irradiated nuclear fuels and reactor components
Analysis of hazardous, mixed, or highly radioactive wastes; other waste forms; and samples
Analytical chemistry support for nuclear forensics
Burnup analyses
Determinations of stable and radioisotopic content in a variety of matrices
Radioisotope separation
Characterization of engineered materials
Expertise in characterization of engineered materials and the nuclear fuel life cycle
Instruments: