Published May 1997 | Version v1
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AECL's experience in MOX fuel fabrication and irradiation

  • 1. Chalk River Labs., Atomic Energy of Canada Limited, Chalk River, ON (Canada)

Description

Atomic Energy of Canada Limited's mixed-oxide (MOX) fuel fabrication activities are conducted in the Recycle Fuel Fabrication Laboratories (RFFL) at the Chalk River Laboratories. The RFFl facility is designed to produce experimental quantities of CANDU MOX fuel for reactor physics tests or demonstration irradiations. From 1979 to 1987, several MOX fuel fabrication campaigns were run in the RFFl, producing various quantities of fuel with different compositions. About 150 bundles, containing over three tonnes of MOX, were fabricated in the RFFL before operations in the facility were suspended. In late 1987, the RFFL was placed in a state of active standby, a condition where no fuel fabrication activities are conducted, but the monitoring and ventilation systems in the facility are maintained. Currently, a project to rehabilitate the RFFL and resume MOX fuel fabrication is underway. The initial campaign will consist of the production of thirty-eight 37-element (U, Pu)O2 bundles containing 0.3 wt.% Pu in Heavy Element (H.E.) destined for physics tests in the zero-power ZED-2 reactor. An overview of AECL's MOX fuel irradiation program will be given. Post-irradiation examination results of (U,Pu)O2 bundles irradiated to burnups ranging from 18 to 49 GWd/te H.E. in the Nuclear Power Demonstration reactor are highlighted. The results demonstrated the excellent performance of CANDU MOX fuel to high burnup, at power ratings up to 45 kW/m. The paper also outlines the status of current MOX fuel irradiation tests, including the irradiation of various (U, Pu)O2 and (Th, Pu)O2 bundles. (author). 2 refs, 9 figs, 5 tabs

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Additional details

Publishing Information

Imprint Title
Recycling of plutonium and uranium in water reactor fuel. Proceedings of a technical committee meeting
Imprint Pagination
391 p.
Journal Page Range
p. 373-385.
ISSN
1011-4289
Report number
IAEA-TECDOC--941

Conference

Title
Technical committee meeting on recycling of plutonium and uranium in water reactor fuel.
Dates
3-7 Jul 1995.
Place
Newby Bridge, Windermere (United Kingdom).

INIS

Country of Publication
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
Country of Input or Organization
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
INIS RN
28047133
Subject category
S22: GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS;
Resource subtype / Literary indicator
Conference
Quality check status
Yes
Descriptors DEI
ATOMIC ENERGY OF CANADA LTD; BURNUP; CANDU TYPE REACTORS; FABRICATION; IRRADIATION; MIXED OXIDE FUEL FABRICATION PLANTS; MIXED OXIDE FUELS; POST-IRRADIATION EXAMINATION;
Descriptors DEC
CANADIAN ORGANIZATIONS; ENERGY SOURCES; FUEL FABRICATION PLANTS; FUELS; HEAVY WATER MODERATED REACTORS; MATERIALS; NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS; NUCLEAR FACILITIES; NUCLEAR FUELS; POWER REACTORS; PRESSURE TUBE REACTORS; REACTOR MATERIALS; REACTORS; SOLID FUELS; THERMAL REACTORS;

Optional Information

Lead record
dsw9t-kfw98