SAFARI-1: Achieving conversion to LEU - A local challenge
- SAFARI-1 Research Reactor, South African Nuclear Energy Corporation (Necsa), PO Box 582, Pretoria 0001 (South Africa)
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 {approx}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. (author)
- Research Organization:
- Argonne National Laboratory, Nuclear Engineering Division, RERTR Department, Argonne, IL (United States); Czech Technical University, Prague (Czech Republic)
- OSTI ID:
- 21113523
- Report Number(s):
- INIS-US-08N0001; TRN: US08N0045121061
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: RERTR-2007: 29. international meeting on reduced enrichment for research and test reactors, Prague (Czech Republic), 23-27 Sep 2007; Other Information: Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); 9 refs, 1 fig; Related Information: In: 2007 international meeting on Reduced Enrichment for Research and Test Reactors (RERTR). Abstracts and available papers presented at the meeting, vp.
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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