2007 International RERTR Meeting
Abstracts and Available Papers Presented at the Meeting
Measuring Progress on HEU Minimization - The Need for Acceleration and Addressing "Out-of Scope" Activities
Ole Reistad and Styrkaar Hustveit
Norwegian Radiation Protection Authority (NRPA)
1332 Østerås, Norway
ABSTRACT
Currently, 294 reactors and isotope production facilities use HEU fuel or target material, out of which 154 are used for naval propulsion. These facilities are in annual need of more than 3 500 kg HEU for naval propulsion, more than 900 kg HEU in research reactors, and more than 80 kg HEU for isotope production in civilian facilities, in addition to 6 000 kg HEU in various other types of reactors. 48 civilian research reactors, representing a decrease in the HEU consumption on 278 kg - or 19% compared to the amount of HEU consumed in 1978 in similar facilities, have completed the conversion to LEU as a result over continued international assistance over three decades. The establishment of baseline measurements for assessing the results of the current HEU minimization effort calls for additional focus on the scope and methodology for HEU minimization. The justification for addressing only 54% of the remaining HEU-fueled research reactors as part of the GTRI program should be addressed together with increased focus on facility decommissioning as 120 HEU-fueled reactors with HEU consumption on 450 kg have been shutdown since 1978. There should be no need for converting all the remaining 133 HEU-fueled research reactors as decommissioning and dismantling should play a more prominent role in the future HEU minimization effort. As other sectors reduce the HEU fuel inventory, there is a need to evaluate the risk associated with the continued use of large quantities of weapons-grade HEU fuel for naval propulsion.
Full paper in PDF format
- Measuring Progress on
HEU Minimization - The Need for Acceleration and
Addressing "Out-of Scope" Activities, O. Reistad
et al.
[PDF, 74KB, 10 pages]
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Contact:
Dr. Jordi Roglans-Ribas
Technical Director, RERTR Department
Nuclear Engineering Division – 362
Argonne National Laboratory
9700 South Cass Avenue
Argonne, IL 60439
Fax: +1 630-252-5161