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A technical solution to a difficult problem - An update

Abstract

A goal of the Reduced Enrichment Research and Test Reactor Program (RERTR) established by the U.S. Department of Energy is to develop the technical means needed to utilize LEU instead of HEU fuels in research and test reactors and to do so without operational penalties and without affecting safety characteristics. This goal has been pursued now for seven years in cooperation with many of you who are participants in this conference. The program has made significant progress in the development, demonstration and application of new LEU research reactor fuels. According to recent projections, the percentage of HEU fuel in international commerce which is technically replaceable with LEU fuels has been growing steadily as research continues. There appears to be no technical barrier to eventual replacement of HEU fuel with LEU fuel in research and test reactors. While there are many politically complex and technically difficult issues involved in nonproliferation, I conclude that the use of highly enriched weapons grade uranium as a fuel in civilian research reactors stands out as one problem which has a straight forward technical solution. The technical solution is the effort you in the RERTR program are embarked on. Once that solution is in hand, the  More>>
Authors:
Publication Date:
Jul 01, 1985
Product Type:
Technical Report
Report Number:
INIS-XA-C-032
Resource Relation:
Conference: International meeting on Reduced Enrichment for Research and Test Reactors (RERTR), Petten (Netherlands), 14-16 Oct 1985; Other Information: PBD: 1985
Subject:
21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS; ECONOMIC ANALYSIS; HIGHLY ENRICHED URANIUM; INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION; LEGAL ASPECTS; NON-PROLIFERATION POLICY; POLITICAL ASPECTS; REACTOR CORES; RESEARCH AND TEST REACTORS; SLIGHTLY ENRICHED URANIUM; US DOE
OSTI ID:
20577100
Research Organizations:
Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC (United States)
Country of Origin:
IAEA
Language:
English
Other Identifying Numbers:
TRN: XA04C1897028637
Availability:
Available from INIS in electronic form
Submitting Site:
INIS
Size:
[5] pages
Announcement Date:
Apr 17, 2005

Citation Formats

Asselstine, J K. A technical solution to a difficult problem - An update. IAEA: N. p., 1985. Web.
Asselstine, J K. A technical solution to a difficult problem - An update. IAEA.
Asselstine, J K. 1985. "A technical solution to a difficult problem - An update." IAEA.
@misc{etde_20577100,
title = {A technical solution to a difficult problem - An update}
author = {Asselstine, J K}
abstractNote = {A goal of the Reduced Enrichment Research and Test Reactor Program (RERTR) established by the U.S. Department of Energy is to develop the technical means needed to utilize LEU instead of HEU fuels in research and test reactors and to do so without operational penalties and without affecting safety characteristics. This goal has been pursued now for seven years in cooperation with many of you who are participants in this conference. The program has made significant progress in the development, demonstration and application of new LEU research reactor fuels. According to recent projections, the percentage of HEU fuel in international commerce which is technically replaceable with LEU fuels has been growing steadily as research continues. There appears to be no technical barrier to eventual replacement of HEU fuel with LEU fuel in research and test reactors. While there are many politically complex and technically difficult issues involved in nonproliferation, I conclude that the use of highly enriched weapons grade uranium as a fuel in civilian research reactors stands out as one problem which has a straight forward technical solution. The technical solution is the effort you in the RERTR program are embarked on. Once that solution is in hand, the operators of research reactors are urged to take political and legal initiatives to make the conversion happen. By effecting this conversion they will help minimize the trade in highly enriched uranium and make the world a little safer.}
place = {IAEA}
year = {1985}
month = {Jul}
}