Abstracts and Available Papers Presented at the
2004 International RERTR Meeting

Y-12 PRODUCT IMPROVEMENTS EXPECTED TO REDUCE METAL PRODUCTION COSTS AND DECREASE FABRICATION LOSSES

MORRIS E. HASSLER
Manager, Global Nuclear Security & Supply Programs National Security Programs
BWXT Y-12 L.L.C., Y-12 National Security Complex
Oak Ridge, TN 37831-8206, U.S.A

ELAINE M. PARKER
Manager, International Programs Global Nuclear Security & Supply Programs
BWXT Y-12 L.L.C., Y-12 National Security Complex
Oak Ridge, TN, 37831-8206, U.S.A

ABSTRACT
 

The Y-12 National Security Complex (Y-12) supplies uranium metal and uranium oxide feed material for fabrication into fuel for research reactors around the world. Over the past few years, Y-12 has continued to improve its Low Enriched Uranium (LEU) product. The LEU is produced by taking U.S. surplus Highly Enriched Uranium (HEU) and blending it with depleted or natural uranium. The surplus HEU comes from dismantled U.S. weapons parts. Those research reactors that use LEU from Y-12 are making important contributions to international nuclear nonproliferation by using LEU rather than HEU, and helping to disposition former U.S. weapons material.

It is clearly understood that the research reactor community must keep fuel costs as low as possible and Y-12 is making every effort to improve efficiencies in producing the uranium through standardizing the chemical specifications as well as the product mass and dimensional qualities. These production cost reductions allows for the U.S. to keep the LEU product price low even with the dramatic increase in the uranium enrichment and feed component market prices in the last few years. This paper will discuss a new standard specification that has been proposed to existing LEU metal customers and fuel fabricators. It will also cover Y-12’s progress on a new mold-design that will result in a more uniform, higher quality product and eliminates two steps of the production process. This new product is expected to decrease fabrication losses by 5-10%, depending on the fabricator’s process. The paper will include planned activities and the schedule associated with implementation of the new specification and product form.

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