Back end of the fuel cycle: Various techniques developed in France

On the basis of processes developed by the Commissariat a l'energie atomique (CEA) and its industrial partners, France has been developing a steady and consistent programme for the back end of the nuclear fuel cycle for about 30 years. The data presented by CEA, Compagnie generale des matieres nucleaires (Cogema), Societe generale pour les techniques nouvelles (SGN) and Transnucleaire (TN) include the main results obtained by CEA as far as know-how and process are concerned and by Cogema in the industrial field. The paper outlines the engineering experience accumulated by Cogema and all the industrial companies working with it, e.g. SGN for plants and sophisticated facilities and TN for all types of packaging (transport, storage, and both transport and storage). The experience gained has led to the development and promotion of: (a) a number of advanced systems for the launching of the nuclear programme using reprocessing (transport of spent fuel, pond storage for the cooling, reprocessing, recycling of fissile materials (U and Pu) and conditioning of all sorts of waste, including HLW); and (b) all systems that are needed by those industries throughout the world which have chosen not to reprocess their fuel immediately and decided either to defer reprocessing or eventually not to reprocess. A description is given of: dry and underwater interim storage; optimum use of storage capacities by compact storage or by consolidation of the fuel; plant design to ensure enhanced performance through an optimized process and improved maintenance techniques; and the radwaste conditioning techniques. From the experience acquired and the R and D efforts made, the CEA group and all its associated industrial partners are in a position to provide safe and economic solutions for spent fuel management. (author). 1 ref