German know-how on Pu recycling and its utilisation for disposition of weapons-grade Pu

The MOX introduction in LWRs (PWR and BWR) was started in Germany in the early 70's. The process of commercial utilisation of Pu recycling was started at KWO (PWR at Obrigheim) and KRB-A (BWR at Gundremmingen). The needs of testing and validation of used methods could mainly be fulfilled by the insertion of initial MOX fuel assembly (FA) reloads. The validated design procedures and experimental results have been used in the MOX licensing process for the other German reactors which started Pu recycling up to now. The main interest of the presentation is to show the way in which existing know-how can be used to help speed up the disposition of excess weapons grade Pu. The PWR relevant MOX know-how was used in bilateral co-operation between Germany and Russia in the past and is now introduced in the new trilateral co-operation by France, Germany and Russia. Besides physics and fuel performance of MOX the above projects include the design and construction of MOX fuel fabrication facilities based on industrially proven technology and existing equipment for commercial recycling of reactor grade Pu. (author)