Burnup
Measure of fuel energy extracted, in MWd/tHM (megawatt-days per tonne heavy metal) or % FIMA. Typical LWR: 40-60 GWd/tHM.
Calculates fissioned heavy atoms; monitored via gamma scanning. High-burnup fuels (>60 GWd/t) reduce waste 20%. Limits set by cladding integrity, CRUD. ATF/TRISO target 100+ GWd/t.
Why it matters now
Higher burnup cuts refueling costs for economic SMRs in 2025-2026 PPA markets. Key metric for data center dispatchability.
Related reactors
AP1000