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"MOX Fuel", Plutonium Utilization for light water reactors
It has been
verified that there is no significant differences in characteristics between MOX
fuel and Uranium fuel and that the safety of reactors can be ensured with MOX
fuel as well as with Uranium fuel on the basis of the experience and various
data obtained. Existing light water reactors for power generating facilities can
be utilized in their current status by replacing part of the uranium fuel in the
reactors with MOX fuel.
Since "plutonium" is used for "thermal reactors
(light water reactors in general)", this scheme is called a "plutonium-Thermal"
project in Japan.
According to the current plan, Japanese electric power
companies will be implementing Plutonium-Thermal utilization with 16 to 18 of
the nuclear reactors operating in Japan.
Responding
to a request of The Federation of Electric Power Companies,
since December 1998, we have been conducting domestic
and international technological studies regarding the
MOX fuel fabrication technology. Simultaneously, we
have also been investigating safety measures and facility
plans.
In April 2005, we
concluded "The Basic Cooperation Agreement for
the Location of MOX Fuel Fabrication Plant" with
Aomori prefecture and Rokkasho village, and a license
application for MOX fuel fabrication business was submitted
to the government authorities. Safety assessment is
now in progress.
The following is
the outline of the planned MOX Fuel Fabrication Plant.
| Product |
MOX
fuel assembly for domestic light-water reactors
(BWR and PWR) |
| Maximum
fabrication capacity |
130t-HM*/year |
| Size
of main building |
approx.85m
x 85m, 2 above-ground levels and 3 underground
levels |
| Number
of operating employees |
Nearly
300 |
| Completion |
June,
2015 |
| Construction
cost |
approx.
¥190 billion |
*"t-HM" stands for "tons of
heavy metal" which indicates the weight of plutonium and uranium metallic
content in MOX.
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Safety
measures at the MOX Fuel Fabrication Plant
At
the MOX fuel Fabrication Plant, where safety
will be given top priority, rigorous critical
safety controls will be implemented. For instance,
the dry process will be adopted for the production
process from MOX powder to fuel assembly. Other
major measures to assure safety are as follows:
- "Mass control" to keep
nuclear fuel substances within the specified
level
- "Shape/dimension control"
to keep the containers for MOX fuel in the
specified shape and dimensions
- "Neutron absorbent control"
to remove fissionable neutrons by the use
of boron, which absorbs neutrons
These measures will be appropriately
combined to realize the highest possible safety
level. In addition, we will introduce the same
safety measures as those already implemented in
other businesses. |
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