A review of the United Kingdom fast reactor programme

The total electricity generating capacity in the UK is approximately 54 GW. Total electricity generation in 1988 was 288 TW hours, of which just over 20% was nuclear. In Scotland the percentage of electricity generated by nuclear stations was 49% of the total, and will exceed 60% in 1989. The privatization of the Electricity Supply Industry (ESI) in the UK (mentioned in last year's report) is proceeding on schedule. Considerable efforts are being made to ensure that the maximum benefits will be obtained from operating the PFR during the next five years. The main thrust of the UKAEA's programme continues to be towards the requirements of the EFR. Reload 16 included the biennial maintenance and statutory inspection period. It was extended from its original 60 days by the need to carry out modifications aimed at improving the reliability of the protection systems designed to safeguard the components of the secondary circuit, including the IHXs, in the event of a sodium-water reaction in a steam generator unit, and by the need to inspect and repair the vessels of the steam generator units. Good progress was made with the fuel development programme. The leading experimental cluster of PE16-clad 6.6 mm diameter pins is continuing irradiation above 21% burnup and 150 dpa (NRT). The lead subassembly with 5.8 mm pins clad in PE16 has exceeded 17.6% burnup, 130 dpa (NRT). The leading subassembly with pins of the same type to have undergone complete PIE contained fuel at 16% burnup and PE16 clad at 116 dpa; these pins were found to be in very good condition. Radial blanket subassemblies have exceeded 2% burnup without failure. In 1988/89 there was one reprocessing campaign in the PFR Reprocessing Plant lasting from November 1988 to February 1989. Feed material included irradiated fuel from 12 subassemblies irradiated in the PFR, some unirradiated subassemblies and loose pins and residues; in all containing 1.3t of Heavy Metal (HM) containing 242 kg plutonium. The cumulative totals since PFR fuel reprocessing started in 1980 are 159 subassemblies plus fabrication residues and 14.26 t of HM containing 2.57t of plutonium