Safety Document for the Dragon Fuel Element Development Laboratory Complex. Dragon Project Report

The Dragon Fuel Element Development Laboratory Complex is situated in the Project Technical Building (B45) at the Atomic Energy Establishment, Winfrith, Dorset. The Project Technical Building is shown in plan in Fig. I.1- The Laboratory Complex, i.e., that area defined by double lines in Fig. I.41 and classified (Red/Red) in accordance with Winfrith Notice 44 (2nd Revision) - December 1966 is shown in more detail in Fig. I.2. The work of the laboratory comprises the development of basic processes for the fabrication of fuelled components and the preparation of specimens for irradiation. Development is currently carried out using natural uranium oxide powder as starting material, whilst the preparation of specimens for irradiation involves the use of uranium oxide powder of varying enrichments. Following the development of oxide fuels as a possible alternative to carbide, the fuel kernels may now contain either uranium or thorium oxide, or uranium or thorium oxide with carbon, or thorium uranium oxide with or without carbon. Any extension of the facilities or processes described below will be the subject of a separate submission, if it is considered that new or increased hazards are involved.