BNFL receives approval for THORP testing
On August 26, the British Department of the Environment granted approval for British Nuclear Fuels pcl (BNFL) to begin test-commissioning of its spent fuel Thermal Oxide Reprocessing Plant (THORP) located at Sellafield. The approval gives BNFL the go-ahead to test the THORP reprocessing system using natural and depleted uranium, instead of spent fuel. By conducting the tests with uranium, BNFL and the nuclear Installations Inspectorate will be able to assess the chemical and physical processes involved in operating THORP, while keeping radioactive contamination of the plant's systems at a minimum. The actual commercial start-up of THORP is still conditional on the evaluation of the relative benefits of reprocessing, and the August 26 testing approval is not expected to influence the outcome of the current evaluations.
- OSTI ID:
- 6996494
- Journal Information:
- NUEXCO. Monthly Report to the Nuclear Industry; (United States), Journal Name: NUEXCO. Monthly Report to the Nuclear Industry; (United States) Vol. 301; ISSN 0742-4582; ISSN NUEXD3
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
BNFL
ENERGY SOURCES
FUEL REPROCESSING PLANTS
FUELS
LEGAL ASPECTS
LICENSING
MATERIALS
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
NUCLEAR FACILITIES
NUCLEAR FUELS
REACTOR MATERIALS
SPENT FUELS
TESTING
UNITED KINGDOM ORGANIZATIONS