Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Materials Section
Spent Fuel Management
Technical Meeting On MOX Fuel and MOX Spent Fuel Management
21 – 24 February 2011,
IAEA Headquarters, Vienna, Austria
I. INTRODUCTION
Currently, most of the spent fuel accumulating from power reactors is stored while awaiting national or international decisions on final disposition. Only about 30 % of fuel discharged each year from nuclear power reactors is reprocessed (~ 3000 t HM/y) while spent fuel reprocessing facilities have a capacity of twice this quantity (6000 t HM/y). As the implementation of spent fuel disposal strategy is slow and many national programs for the final disposition of spent fuel are delayed, a strategy of recycling spent fuel is being reconsidered in some countries. This is combined with an increased interest in multilateral cooperation for the nuclear fuel cycle, in particular by smaller, technology receiving countries and newcomers. Multilateral cooperation may facilitate the use of MOX fuel.
There is a substantial amount of knowledge and experience in the manufacture, use and management of MOX fuel in thermal reactors. Developments of new generation reactors and fuel cycles may also facilitate the use MOX fuel with fast reactors and other fuel cycle technologies. As these applications with novel fuel cycles may not be realised in the near future, it is important to bear in mind that safe and reliable long term storage is also an essential prerequisite for the use of MOX fuel.
The purpose of this meeting is to provide an overview of the current status of MOX fuel application as well as insights into future developments associated with advanced reactors and fuel cycles.
II. TOPICS TO BE COVEREDThe principal objectives of this meeting are to compile the latest information on the current status of MOX fuel development and use, and to consider potential future applications with advanced reactor systems and fuel cycles in order to provide Member States with a basis to update their spent fuel management strategies.
The topic groups to be covered are:
- Design and Manufacturing of MOX fuel for thermal reactors;
- Licensing of the MOX fuel application;
- In-reactor experiences with the MOX fuel;
- Management of spent MOX fuel including storage, disposal and reprocessing;
- Application of MOX in advanced fuel cycles; and
- Potential timing of MOX use and long term storage of spent MOX fuel.
Scientific Secretaries:
Mr. Zvonko Lovasic
International Atomic Energy Agency
Vienna International Centre
PO Box 100
1400 Vienna, Austria
Phone: +43 1 2600 22767
Fax: +43 1 26007 22767
Email: Z.Lovasic@iaea.org
Mr. John C. Killeen
International Atomic Energy Agency
Vienna International Centre
PO Box 100
1400 Vienna, Austria
Phone: +43 1 2600 22763
Fax: +43 1 26007 22763
Email: J.Killeen@iaea.org
Secretary:
Ms Valentina Prohaska
International Atomic Energy Agency
Vienna International Centre
PO Box 100
1400 Vienna, Austria
Phone: +43 1 2600 22761
Fax: +43 1 2600 22761
Email: V.Prohaska@iaea.org
Last updated: 5 October 2010