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ENEL's viewpoint on Pu recycle in water reactors

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:4351097
ENEL has long acknowledged the importance of plutonium recycle in thermal reactors; as a matter of fact, ENEL was faced with this problem before the other electric utilities because it operated a graphite-Magnox station at Latina with a high plutonium production, and two light water stations, Garigliano and Trino Vercellese, in which plutonium might be recycled. In 1966 ENEL, in collaboration with EURATOM, launched an extensive research program, while a Demonstration Program is still under way in the 160-MW(e) boiling water reactor of the Gariglian station. Sixteen plutonium prototype assemblies were loaded in this reactor, with about 900 mixed-oxide rods and a total weight of 3 tons of fuel. ENEL shares the opinion of several other utilities about the advisability to recycle the plutonium quantities exceeding the requirements for research and demonstration fast reactors, Recycling in thermal reactors shall be interrupted when, owing to the approaching of the commercial advent of fast reactors, the plutonium shall be stored for more rational utilizations. In the present commercial phase of plutonium recycle in thermal reactors, the economic conditions for recycling seem to encourage the utilities, thus justifying intensive plutonium utilizations in those thermal reactors in which the technical- economic analysis indicate the higher value of this fissile material. (INIS)
Research Organization:
Ente Nazionale per l'Energia Elettrica, Rome (Italy)
NSA Number:
NSA-29-020334
OSTI ID:
4351097
Report Number(s):
INIS-mf--830
Country of Publication:
Italy
Language:
English

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