Irradiated PWR fuel test and control facilities available at the Saclay Nuclear Research Centre

The paper deals with recent equipments implemented in SACLAY Nuclear Research Center in regard to French Nuclear Power R and D needs. In particular, the equipments of ''Laboratoire d'Etudes des Combustibles Irradies'' and OSIRIS - ISIS Research Reactors have been upgraded. LECI facility recovers complete assemblies or single pins from Nuclear Power Plants or Test Reactors. A specially equipped hot cell enables nondestructive tests on the whole assembly before dismantling. Fuel discarded in experimental programs is packed for direct transfer to LA HAGUE Reprocessing Plant. Specific pins and structural parts are submitted to systematic nondestructive and destructive tests (metrology, neutron radiography, gamma scanning, fission gas release, metallography, CASTAING's microprobe...). Other fuel pins are prepared (FABRICE process) for reirradiation in OSIRIS at PWR thermohydraulic conditions. Different situations in operation can be simulated, in particular power and temperature transients. In order to follow the fuel behaviour during these irradiations, nondestructive control devices have been implemented in OSIRIS pool (out of flux as well as under flux diametral measurements, neutron radiography, Eddy currents, gamma scanning, remote visual inspection, acoustic emission...). Then fuel pins return to LECI for further survey according to previous observations in OSIRIS. (author)