Uploaded September 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Argonne National Laboratory is a multidisciplinary science and engineering research center where scientists and engineers pioneer breakthroughs that address some of the world’s most pressing challenges. In this video, chemical engineer Bethany Dean-Kersten discusses an Argonne-led project under DOE’s Genesis Mission that uses an AI-enabled digital twin to accelerate the development of advanced nuclear fuel recycling facilities.
The United States has more than 90,000 metric tons of used nuclear fuel in storage, and more than 95% of that material could still be used as fuel. As the nation works to expand nuclear energy capacity, recycling used fuel could help strengthen the supply of fuel for advanced reactors. However, designing, building and licensing new recycling facilities can be slow and costly, requiring extensive physical testing before a facility can be built.
To address this challenge, Argonne is working with Case Western Reserve University, Oklo Inc. and ModCon: Transformational AI and Data to develop a digital twin — a dynamic software model — of the first stage of pyroprocessing, a nuclear fuel recycling technology Argonne has advanced for more than two decades. Grounded in chemistry and physics and trained on Argonne experimental data, the model is paired with AI agents that support data preparation, anomaly detection and automated regulatory documentation. This approach could allow engineers to refine facility designs virtually while reducing the need for repeated physical experiments.
The project aims to cut development costs in half, track nuclear material with near-total accuracy and identify potential problems earlier in the development process. By combining Argonne’s expertise in nuclear fuel recycling with AI-enabled modeling, the team is working toward a faster and more cost-effective path for bringing advanced nuclear fuel recycling technologies to commercial deployment. Learn more about how Argonne is advancing this work under DOE’s Genesis Mission.
Find out more about Argonne’s role supporting the DOE’s Genesis Mission ►► anl.gov/genesis-mission/projects/ai-enabled-digital-twins-for-commercializing-fuel-recycling-and-securing-advanced-reactor-fuel-supply-chains
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ABOUT ARGONNE
Argonne National Laboratory seeks solutions to pressing national problems in science and technology by conducting leading-edge basic and applied research in virtually every scientific discipline. Argonne is managed by UChicago Argonne, LLC for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science.
ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY OFFICE OF SCIENCE
The U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science is the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States and is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information, visit the Office of Science website.
Argonne National Laboratory is a multidisciplinary science and engineering research center where scientists and engineers pioneer breakthroughs that address some of the world’s most pressing challenges. In this video, chemical engineer Bethany Dean-Kersten discusses an Argonne-led project under DOE’s Genesis Mission that uses an AI-enabled digital twin to accelerate the development of advanced nuclear fuel recycling facilities.
The United States has more than 90,000 metric tons of used nuclear fuel in storage, and more than 95% of that material could still be used as fuel. As the nation works to expand nuclear energy capacity, recycling used fuel could help strengthen the supply of fuel for advanced reactors. However, designing, building and licensing new recycling facilities can be slow and costly, requiring extensive physical testing before a facility can be built.
To address this challenge, Argonne is working with Case Western Reserve University, Oklo Inc. and ModCon: Transformational AI and Data to develop a digital twin — a dynamic software model — of the first stage of pyroprocessing, a nuclear fuel recycling technology Argonne has advanced for more than two decades. Grounded in chemistry and physics and trained on Argonne experimental data, the model is paired with AI agents that support data preparation, anomaly detection and automated regulatory documentation. This approach could allow engineers to refine facility designs virtually while reducing the need for repeated physical experiments.
The project aims to cut development costs in half, track nuclear material with near-total accuracy and identify potential problems earlier in the development process. By combining Argonne’s expertise in nuclear fuel recycling with AI-enabled modeling, the team is working toward a faster and more cost-effective path for bringing advanced nuclear fuel recycling technologies to commercial deployment. Learn more about how Argonne is advancing this work under DOE’s Genesis Mission.
Find out more about Argonne’s role supporting the DOE’s Genesis Mission ►► anl.gov/genesis-mission/projects/ai-enabled-digital-twins-for-commercializing-fuel-recycling-and-securing-advanced-reactor-fuel-supply-chains
Still haven't subscribed to Argonne National Laboratory on YouTube? ►► bit.ly/2Vyzwvm
Join us on Facebook ► bit.ly/ArgonneFacebook
Follow us on X ► bit.ly/ArgonneTwitter
We’re on Instagram ► bit.ly/ArgonneInstagram
Connect with us on LinkedIn ► bit.ly/ArgonneLinkedIn
ABOUT ARGONNE
Argonne National Laboratory seeks solutions to pressing national problems in science and technology by conducting leading-edge basic and applied research in virtually every scientific discipline. Argonne is managed by UChicago Argonne, LLC for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science.
ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY OFFICE OF SCIENCE
The U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science is the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States and is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information, visit the Office of Science website.
