Abstracts and Available Papers Presented at the 2002 International RERTR Meeting
SPENT FUEL STORAGE AND TRANSPORTATION
– ANSTO EXPERIENCE
Tony Irwin
Australian Nuclear
Science and Technology Organisation
ABSTRACT
The Australian
Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) has
operated the 10 MW DIDO class High Flux Materials Test Reactor (HIFAR) since
1958.
Refuelling the reactor produces
about 38 spent fuel elements each year. Australia
has no power reactors and only one operating research reactor so that a
reprocessing plant in Australia
is not an economic proposition.
The HEU fuel for HIFAR is manufactured at Dounreay using UK
or US origin
enriched uranium. Spent fuel was originally sent to Dounreay, UK for reprocessing but
this plant was shutdown in 1998. ANSTO participates in the US Foreign Research
Reactor Spent Fuel Return program and also has a contract with COGEMA for the
reprocessing of non-US origin fuel.