Conceptual Design of an Engineering-scale Plant applying the Simplified MA-bearing Fuel Fabrication Process

Researchers at Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) have proposed the transmutation of minor actinides (MAs) by both fast reactors (FRs) and accelerator driven system (ADSs) as a way to contribute significantly to the reduction of the volume and the potential radiotoxicity of radioactive wastes. In order to achieve this transmutation goal, it is important to introduce a fully automated and remotely operated fuel fabrication plant with shielded hot cells and manipulators to deal with the extremely strong radiation dose and high heat generation from MAs. JAEA's facilities including the Plutonium Fuel Production Facility (PFPF) have fabricated MOX fuel. On the basis of the operational and technical experience obtained in those facilities, the conceptual design was made of an engineering-scale plant applying the simplified MA-bearing fuel fabrication process with shielded hot cells and manipulators. It was judged to be possible to fabricate high MA-bearing fuel and to perform the maintenance and repair of each piece of equipment by using the manipulators. A plant will be constructed based on this concept and development plan. (author)