2007 International RERTR Meeting

Abstracts and Available Papers Presented at the Meeting

Core Conversion of the Portuguese Research Reactor to LEU Fuel

J.G. Marques, A.R. Ramos
Instituto Tecnológico e Nuclear
Estrada Nacional 10, P-2686-953 Sacavém, Portugal

A. Kocher
AREVA CERCA
10 rue Juliette Récamier, F-69456 Lyon Cedex 06, France

ABSTRACT

Core conversion of the Portuguese Research Reactor (RPI) to LEU fuel is being performed within IAEA's Technical Cooperation project POR/4/016, with financial support from the US and Portugal. CERCA was selected as manufacturer of the LEU assemblies by the IAEA after an international call for bids. CERCA provided a comprehensive package to the RPI which included the mechanical verification of the design of the assemblies, their manufacture and arrangements for a joint inspection of the finished assemblies. The LEU fuel assemblies were manufactured within 8 months upon final approval of the design. The safety analyses for the core conversion to LEU fuel were made with the assistance of the RERTR program and were submitted for review by the IAEA and by Portuguese authorities in January 2007. Revised documents were submitted in June 2007 addressing the issues raised during review. Regulatory approval was received in early August and core conversion was done in early September. All measured safety parameters are within the defined acceptance limits. Operation at full power is expected by the end of October.

 

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