Under the guidance of the Working Party on Scientific Issues and Uncertainty Analysis of Reactor Systems (WPRS) the expert group performed from 2011-2024 specific tasks associated with fuel performance aspects of present and future nuclear power systems. This group was closed aiming at creating a more impactful and relevant organization of experts working in fuel performance by merging the EGRFP with the Expert Group on Fuel Materials (EGFM).

Reactor types considered by the EGRFP included mostly present generation LWRs and HWRs with advanced and innovative fuels, evolutionary and innovative LWRs and HWRs.

Objectives

The group provided expert advice to the WPRS and the nuclear community on the development needs (data and methods, validation experiments, scenario studies) for existing and proposed fuel designs. A key activity associated with this objective was the identification and preservation of appropriate experimental data, in order to provide specific technical information regarding:

• the status of national and international programmes including experimental capability
• the provision of experimental data for model development and validation of the International Fuel Performance Experiments (IFPE) Database 
• methods for code verification

Technical information was generallybe derived from a combination of direct experimental evidence and/or the results of theoretical benchmark analyses like the Pellet-Cladding Mechanical Interaction (PCMI) Benchmark and the Burst Fission Gas Release (FGR) Benchmark of the Expert Group on Reactor Fuel Performance (EGRFP) using accurate, validated modelling methods. In either case the availability of suitable experimental data was a fundamental requirement. A key objective of the group was therefore to help identify, evaluate and preserve this type of experimental data. In this context the expert group monitored, steered and supported the continued development of the Pellet-Cladding Mechanical Interaction (PCMI) Benchmark. It facilitated the dissemination of technical information and knowledge through activities such as workshops, benchmark studies and training activities.