2007 International RERTR Meeting

Abstracts and Available Papers Presented at the Meeting

SAFARI-1: ACHIEVING CONVERSION TO LEU A LOCAL CHALLENGE

Piani CSB
SAFARI-1 Research Reactor
South African Nuclear Energy Corporation (Necsa)
PO Box 582, Pretoria 0001 - Republic of South Africa
e-mail: [email protected]

ABSTRACT

Two years have passed since the South African Department of Minerals and Energy authorised the conversion from High Enriched Uranium (HEU) to Low Enriched Uranium (LEU) of the South African Research Reactor (SAFARI-1) and the associated fuel manufacturing at Pelindaba. The scheduling, as originally proposed, allowed approximately three years for the full conversion of the reactor, anticipating simultaneous manufacturing ability from the fuel production plant.

Due to technical difficulties experienced in the conversion of the local manufacturing plant from HEU (UAl alloy) to LEU (U Silicide) and the uncertainty as to costing and scheduling of such an achievement, the conversion of SAFARI-1 based on local supply has been allocated a lower priority.

The acquisition in mid-2006 of 2 LEU silicide elements of SA design, manufactured by AREVA-CERCA and irradiated as test elements in SAFARI-1 to burn-ups of ~65% each; was successfully accomplished within 9 cycles of irradiation each.

Furthermore, four "Hybrid" elements (AREVA-CERCA plates assembled locally at Pelindaba) are ready for irradiation and have received regulatory authorisation to load. This will enable the SAFARI-1 conversion program to continue systematically according to an agreed schedule.

This paper will trace the developments of the above and reflect the current status and the rescheduled conversion phases of the reactor according to latest expectations.

 

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