[en] The International Working Group on Water Reactor Fuel Performance and Technology (IWGFPT) recommended holding a Technical Committee Meeting on Water Channel Reactor Fuel including into this category fuels and pressure tubes/fuel channels for Atucha-I and II, BWR, CANDU, FUGEN and RBMK reactors. The IWGFPT considered that even if the characteristics of Atucha, CANDUs, BWRs, FUGEN and RBMKs differ considerably, there are also common features. These features include materials aspects, as well as core, fuel assembly and fuel rod design, and some safety issues. There is also some similarity in fuel power history and operating conditions (Atucha-I and II, FUGEN and RBMK). Experts from 11 countries participated at the meeting and presented papers on technology, performance, safety and design, and materials aspects of fuels and pressure tubes/fuel channels for the above types of water channel reactors

[en] The different types of BWR fuel R and D programs at Studsvik are discussed. The R2 test reactor, its facilities for irradiation experiments and post-irradiation examinations are described. Reviews are given of some of STUDSVIK's earlier international fuel R and D programs, of STUDSVIK's defect fuel degradation experiments and of the following new upcoming international fuel R and D projects: the DEFEX II, ULTRA-RAMP, SUPER-RAMP III/10 x 10, STEED, Post-DO/DNB and TRANS-RAMP III Projects. (author)

[en] The thermal-mechanical pellet and cladding interaction (TM PCI) in RBMK fuel rods leads to cladding deformation under transient operation conditions. This phenomena is practically confirmed by the full scale in-pile experiments and by the operation experience. The significant fuel rod elongation after long-term irradiation under RMBK operation conditions is observed. What are the reasons and mechanism of this phenomenon? Based on the fuel rods behavior during operation, the calculation model of TM PCI and computer code OXPA have been developed by the authors team. It is under Russian regulatory body licensing now. The main ideas and technique of the OXPA code are presented in paper. (author)

[en] In this paper the current situation of energy consumption in China is provided. Coal-burn as a dominant sector of energy consumption causes heavy burden on transportation and serious environmental pollution. The roles of nuclear energy in the future energy supply are discussed. The situation of nuclear development, especially heating reactor is introduced. (author)

[en] The many and diverse technologies necessary for the design, construction licensing and operation of a nuclear power plant can be efficiently assimilated by a recipient country through an effective technology transfer program supported by the firm long term commitment of both the recipient country organizations and the supplier. AECL's experience with nuclear related technology transfer spans four decades and includes the construction and operation of CANDU plants in five countries and four continents. A sixth country will be added to this list with the start of construction of two CANDU 6 plants in China in early 1997. This background provides the basis for addressing the key factors in the successful transfer of nuclear technology, providing insights into the lessons learned and introducing a framework for success. This paper provides an overview of AECL experience relative to the important factors influencing technology transfer, and reviews specific country experiences. (author)

[en] The design characteristics of a compact Free Electron Laser (FEL) operating in the far infrared spectral range between 200 and 600 μm are presented in this report. The device can be employed in a fundamental physics experiment to be performed in collaboration with INFN-Trieste and the Paul Sherrer Institute- Villigen. Spectroscopic measurements in the above spectral region will allow one to determine the energy difference between the levels 3D-3P in the μP system with great accuracy

[en] Full text: A major thrust in recent chemical research has been the development of supramolecular chemistry 1 - broadly the chemistry of large multicomponent molecular assemblies in which the component structural units are held together by either covalent linkages or by a variety of weaker (non-covalent) interactions that include hydrogen bonding, dipole stacking, π-stacking, van der Waals q forces and favourable hydrophobic interactions. Much of the activity in the area has been motivated by the known behaviour of biological molecules (such as enzymes). Thus molecular assemblies are ubiquitous in natural systems but, with a limited number of exceptions, have only recently been the subject of increasing investigation by chemists. A feature of much of this recent work has been its focus on molecular design for achieving complementarity between single molecule hosts and guests. The use of single crystal neutron diffraction coupled with molecular modelling and a range of other techniques to investigate the nature of individual supramolecular systems will be discussed. By way of example, in one such study the supramolecular array formed by co-crystallisation of 1,2- diaminoethane and benzoic acid has been investigated; the system self-assembles into an unusual layered structure composed of two-dimensional hydrogen bonded networks sandwiched between layers of edge-to-face stacked aromatic systems. The number of hydrogen-bond donors and acceptors is balanced in this structure

[en] Full text: Cemented zeolite cured at different temperatures were studied to determine whether or not there significant changes between the retention of caesium or strontium. A 65% pure clinoptilolite zeolite, a 90% pure clinoptilolite zeolite and a synthetic A type zeolite were used in the study. Two different Portland cements were chosen to immobilize the zeolites which were ion exchanged with caesium and strontium prior to immobilisation. The cemented zeolites were cured for 28 days at room temperature, and for 7 days at 70 deg C and 150 deg C. They were then leached in pure water at 25 deg C and 40 deg C for 28 days without replacement of the leachate solutions. Leachate aliquots were collected every 3, 7, 14, 21 and 28 days. Zeolite additions in cements improved the retention of both caesium and strontium the level of retention being dependent on the type of zeolite, the type of cement and the temperature of leaching

[en] We propose a mechanism based on the existing XPS literature data and new secondary ions mass spectroscopy (SIMS) and X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) measurements. SIMS measurements demonstrate that the adsorbed Cu is not solely located in sites of low coordination and is spread relatively evenly across the surface of sphalerite particles. XAFS measurements have indicated that the Cu is located in a distorted trigonal planar conformation in both bulk and surface sphalerite sites. The proposed mechanism accounts for the final oxidation states of Cu and S as observed by XPS. In addition the proposed mechanism of activation accounts for the slight shift to a lower oxidation state of bulk Cu as compared to surface adsorbed Cu as observed from the Cu( 1s) binding energies

[en] It is now more than a year since the Federal government announced the decision to replace the HIFAR research reactor. The planned start up date of the replacement reactor is 2005, and HIFAR will continue to operate until that time. It is to be a multipurpose reactor with improved capabilities for neutron beam research and for the production of radioisotopes for pharmaceutical, scientific and industrial use. The neutron beam facilities are intended to cater for Australian scientific needs well into the 21st century. In the first stage of planning, a consultative group was formed, the Beam Facilities Consultative Group (BFCG), to determine the scientific capabilities of the new facility. Then, a beam facilities technical group (BFTG) was formed to prepare the engineering specifications for the tendering process. The group consisted of some members of the BFGC, several scientists and engineers from ANSTO, and scientists from leading neutron scattering centres in Europe, USA and Japan. The BFTG looked in detail at the key components of the facility such as the thermal, cold and hot neutron sources, neutron collimators, neutron beam guides and overall requirements for the neutron guide hall. The report of the BFTG, which was submitted in August, has been incorporated into the specifications for the reactor project. Planning for the initial suite of instruments is now under way. The latest technological advances will be used wherever possible to ensure that world class facilities are constructed. The details of the facility will be presented, highlighting some new technologies which will be used, and indicating the scientific capabilities that are to be developed