Abstracts and Available Papers Presented at the
1998 International RERTR Meeting

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION FOR THE QUALIFICATION OF CNEA-ARGENTINA AS A
SUPPLIER OF LEU SILICIDE FUEL AND POST-IRRADIATION EXAMINATIONS
PLAN FOR THE FIRST PROTOTYPE IRRADIATED IN ARGENTINA

Gabriel Ruggirello, Pablo Adelfang, Alicia Denis, Andres Zawerucha,
Agustin Di Marco, Eduardo Guillaume, Monica Sbaffoni, Pablo Lacoste

Comision Nacional Energia Atomica
Argentina

September 1998

Abstract

In this report we present a description of the ongoing and future stages of the program for the qualification of CNEA (Comisi6n Nacional de Energia At6mica, Argentina) as a supplier of low enriched uranium (LEE9 silicide fuel elements (FE) for research reactor Particularly we will focus on the characteristics of the future irradiation experiment on a new detachable prototype, the post-irradiation examinations (PIE) plan for the already irradiated prototype P04 and an overview of the recently implemented PIE facilities and equipment.

The program is divided in several steps, some of which have been already completed It includes: development of the uranium silicide fissile material, irradiation and PIE of LEU silicide miniplates and irradiation and PIE of several full-scale prototypes. Important investments have been already carried out in the facilities for the FE production and PIE.

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