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Title: MONJU AS AN INTERNATIONAL ASSET: INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE AND COOPERATION

Abstract

The role of the fast breeder reactor prototype Monju has expanded to meet the challenges of the 21st century. Today instead of being merely a demonstration of an economical, safe, environmentally responsible source of energy, as originally designed, it has also the capability to be transformed into a unique International Irradiations Test Facility. The potential for Monju's role in the Generation IV nuclear energy systems development, and fast reactor research and development area is clear. Its incomparable fast neutron spectrum density will be a major interest not only for Sodium Fast Reactor but for all the Generation IV concepts. As Monju's potential future role is laid out, plans for future tests can be made. Tests of advanced fuels and materials in support of the Advanced Fuel Cycle Initiative, as well as Minor Actinide Burning can be envisaged. Tests planned on transmutation of minor actinides have the objectives of an industrial demonstration of the reduction of toxic wastes and the stewardship burden of the long-lived wastes. Tests and demonstrations carried out at Monju will provide a bridge from existing Generation III fast reactor systems, now in the later stages of their projected operational lifetimes, to Generation IV nuclear energy systems. Themore » JNC founded the International Cooperation and Technology Development Center and the International Research Fellowship program to facilitate this international effort. The Center exists specifically to formulate and perform projects ensuring the maximum technical benefit from Monju. The staff includes physicists, engineers and nuclear industry leaders from around the world. Research Fellowships center is based on several technical areas: advanced instrumentation, inspection techniques, plant reliability and safety, nucleonics, sodium handling technologies, irradiation and experiment management and coordination and advanced post-irradiation examination capabilities and techniques. This paper describes the recent involvement of three international researchers from the USA, France and the UK who have been working at Monju on various projects but on the same common denominator: Generation IV. Monju is seen from this international perspective as an essential research facility, and represents a unique international R&D facility which will fulfill many roles. Therefore current international involvement in the Monju program has already taken many forms. This paper aims to present some of them.« less

Authors:
; ;
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
ICTDC: International Cooperation and Technology Development Center, Japan Nuclear Cycle Development Institute, 1-chome, Shiraki, Tsuruga, Fukui 914-1279 (JP)
Sponsoring Org.:
none (US)
OSTI Identifier:
841350
Resource Type:
Conference
Resource Relation:
Conference: Americas Nuclear Energy Symposium (ANES 2004), Miami, FL (US), 10/03/2004--10/06/2004; Other Information: PBD: 6 Oct 2004
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS; 29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY AND ECONOMY; ACTINIDES; BREEDER REACTORS; ENGINEERS; FAST NEUTRONS; FAST REACTORS; FUEL CYCLE; INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION; IRRADIATION; NUCLEAR ENERGY; NUCLEAR INDUSTRY; POST-IRRADIATION EXAMINATION; RELIABILITY; SAFETY; SODIUM; TRANSMUTATION; WASTES; GENERATION IV; SODIUM FAST REACTOR; INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATION

Citation Formats

Rodriguez, G, Wisner, R S, and Stuart, R. MONJU AS AN INTERNATIONAL ASSET: INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE AND COOPERATION. United States: N. p., 2004. Web.
Rodriguez, G, Wisner, R S, & Stuart, R. MONJU AS AN INTERNATIONAL ASSET: INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE AND COOPERATION. United States.
Rodriguez, G, Wisner, R S, and Stuart, R. 2004. "MONJU AS AN INTERNATIONAL ASSET: INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE AND COOPERATION". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/841350.
@article{osti_841350,
title = {MONJU AS AN INTERNATIONAL ASSET: INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE AND COOPERATION},
author = {Rodriguez, G and Wisner, R S and Stuart, R},
abstractNote = {The role of the fast breeder reactor prototype Monju has expanded to meet the challenges of the 21st century. Today instead of being merely a demonstration of an economical, safe, environmentally responsible source of energy, as originally designed, it has also the capability to be transformed into a unique International Irradiations Test Facility. The potential for Monju's role in the Generation IV nuclear energy systems development, and fast reactor research and development area is clear. Its incomparable fast neutron spectrum density will be a major interest not only for Sodium Fast Reactor but for all the Generation IV concepts. As Monju's potential future role is laid out, plans for future tests can be made. Tests of advanced fuels and materials in support of the Advanced Fuel Cycle Initiative, as well as Minor Actinide Burning can be envisaged. Tests planned on transmutation of minor actinides have the objectives of an industrial demonstration of the reduction of toxic wastes and the stewardship burden of the long-lived wastes. Tests and demonstrations carried out at Monju will provide a bridge from existing Generation III fast reactor systems, now in the later stages of their projected operational lifetimes, to Generation IV nuclear energy systems. The JNC founded the International Cooperation and Technology Development Center and the International Research Fellowship program to facilitate this international effort. The Center exists specifically to formulate and perform projects ensuring the maximum technical benefit from Monju. The staff includes physicists, engineers and nuclear industry leaders from around the world. Research Fellowships center is based on several technical areas: advanced instrumentation, inspection techniques, plant reliability and safety, nucleonics, sodium handling technologies, irradiation and experiment management and coordination and advanced post-irradiation examination capabilities and techniques. This paper describes the recent involvement of three international researchers from the USA, France and the UK who have been working at Monju on various projects but on the same common denominator: Generation IV. Monju is seen from this international perspective as an essential research facility, and represents a unique international R&D facility which will fulfill many roles. Therefore current international involvement in the Monju program has already taken many forms. This paper aims to present some of them.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/841350}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Wed Oct 06 00:00:00 EDT 2004},
month = {Wed Oct 06 00:00:00 EDT 2004}
}

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