Criticality Safety and Fuel Segregation at Zircatec – Past Present And Future – Part I
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Abstract
In response to the Power Uprate program at Bruce Power, Zircatec has committed to introduce, by Spring 2006 a new manufacturing line for the production of 43 element Bruce LVRF bundles containing Slightly Enriched Uranium (SEU) with a centre pin of blended dysprosia/urania (BDU). This is a new fuel design and is the first change in fuel design since the introduction of the current 37 element fuel over 20 years ago. Zircatec has been involved with the manufacture of enriched fuel for at least 30 years. In the recent past (~ 20 years) enriched manufacture at Zircatec has been limited to small special orders for test purposes; this has included the major development work conducted to support the evolution of the current design. This presentation will discuss methods that have been used for small scale manufacture of special fuels including those with multiple enrichment. Specific examples will be given as pertaining to the manufacture of 26 LVRF Demonstration Irradiation bundles.
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