What is done in France with respect to the design, manufacture, management and development of nuclear fuel

What France is undertaking today concerning nuclear fuel is presented under four headings: (1) Design: The analysis of design and that of fuel behaviour is determined by the constructor through the knowledge of phenomena and the evaluation of materials selection and design criteria as well as the calculation of margins; this task is performed with the help of experimental qualifying programmes. With the means at its disposal the Equipment Department of Electricite de France scrutinizes the studies related to the first charges. Thus, design can be proved satisfactory by analysing fuel operation data. Achievements or expectations concerning the fuel supplied by Framatome for CNA and Tihange are given as illustrations. This work is being continued in the study to promote 17x17 (extra-long) fuel. (2) Manufacture: The Quality Assurance of Framatome (supplier of the fuel now being ordered), already applied at the design study level, provides here the important means necessary to ensure the good quality of the products manufactured. EDF's controlling role, as far as the first charges are concerned, today ranges from examining the constructor's manufacturing specifications to investigating at request possible exceptions. (3) Management: EDF's Thermal Production Department implements a system of integrated management: Requirement forecasting; accounting and financial management; permanent control of radioactive material; physical optimization of fuel renewal and control of operating conditions; and analysis of the technological behaviour in the reactor in order to apply experience gained from it to fuel offered by various suppliers. (4) Development: The Atomic Energy Commission has developed fuel for its water reactors according to two techniques: slug fuel and plate fuel. If required both can be considered for power reactors. (author)