Status of the CEA fuel examination hot cell facilities
This paper draws up a list of the Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique (CEA) hot cell facilities that are devoted to irradiated fuel examination. It outlines their respective roles relative to examination needs for the three main types of reactors developed by Electricite de France, by CEA, and by the French engineering and manufacturing companies: pressurized water reactors (PWRs), fast breeder reactors (FBRs), and gas-cooled graphite-moderated natural uranium reactors. Since their original operation, these laboratories have evolved programs, techniques, and equipment along the following main lines: (1) beyond examination, their functions extend to the different fuel cycle tasks downstream from the reactor; this is particularly the case for the Active Materials Analysis Laboratory (LAMA) in Grenoble and for the Active Fuel Examination Laboratory (LECA) in Cadarache where a treatment, purification, and reconditioning facility is being built as an extension. (2) Complementing the examinations, hot cell resetting of irradiated pins, accurate metallurgical studies, and specific testing will be carried out. (3) In parallel with the development of safety study programs, tests have been extended to examinations of severely damaged fuel elements. (5) To meet new needs, use of the different laboratories must take into account their specialties and aim at cost optimization.
- OSTI ID:
- 6929145
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-8711195-
- Journal Information:
- Trans. Am. Nucl. Soc.; (United States), Journal Name: Trans. Am. Nucl. Soc.; (United States) Vol. 55; ISSN TANSA
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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420203* -- Engineering-- Handling Equipment & Procedures
BREEDER REACTORS
CEA
EPITHERMAL REACTORS
EQUIPMENT
FAST REACTORS
FBR TYPE REACTORS
FRENCH ORGANIZATIONS
FUEL ELEMENTS
GAS COOLED REACTORS
GCR TYPE REACTORS
GRAPHITE MODERATED REACTORS
HOT CELLS
LABORATORY EQUIPMENT
MATERIALS TESTING
METALLURGY
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
NONDESTRUCTIVE TESTING
PERFORMANCE
POST-IRRADIATION EXAMINATION
PWR TYPE REACTORS
REACTOR COMPONENTS
REACTORS
TESTING
WATER COOLED REACTORS
WATER MODERATED REACTORS