Browsing by Author "Valery, J"

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    Australian research reactors spent fuel management: the path to sustainability
    (European Nuclear Society, 2016-03-13) Finlay, MR; Miller, R; Dimitrovski, L; Domingo, X; Landau, P; Valery, J; Laloy, V
    Since the late 1950’s, ANSTO has successfully operated three research reactors in Australia: HIFAR (1958-2007), MOATA (1961-1995) and OPAL (2006- Specific strategies were developed and implemented for the management and disposition of spent fuel from HIFAR and MOATA. They included strategic considerations, technical options, fuel characteristics, storage capacity, operational constraints and associated implications. In addition, the operating licenses of the Australian reactors have required the identification of spent fuel disposition arrangements, i.e. the “deferment” strategy of storage indefinitely is not acceptable. Disposition then employed three routes with direct disposal in the USA under the US-DOE FRRSNFA Program and reprocessing in France by AREVA, and in the UK by the UKAEA. Both reprocessing routes included return of vitrified waste. ANSTO and AREVA have worked together since the late 1990’s on the disposition of uranium aluminide (UAlx) spent fuel from HIFAR. Today, ANSTO is committed to develop a lifetime strategy for management and disposition of uranium silicide (U3Si2) spent fuel from OPAL. AREVA’s ability to offer an integrated solution for storage, transport, reprocessing, waste return and long-term management, including addressing individual customer needs (type of fuel, timelines, quantities, final waste management strategy,...), has provided ANSTO with a viable spent fuel management strategy, for OPAL’s lifetime.
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    OPAL spent fuel management: status in 2019
    (European Research Reactor Conference, RRFM, 2019-03-24) Finlay, MR; Healy, M; Naidoo-Amegilo, P; Valery, J; Halle, L
    Since the late 1950’s, ANSTO has successfully operated three research reactors in Australia: HIFAR (1958-2007), MOATA (1961-1995) and OPAL (2006-present). ANSTO has demonstrated the safe and secure management of the spent fuel from those reactors. MOATA and HIFAR spent fuel was either reprocessed offshore in the UK or France and the vitrified waste returned to Australia or returned to the USA under the FRRSNFA Program. A strategy for the management of OPAL spent fuel was developed before construction started and has evolved since then. The strategy of spent fuel disposition is now established as offshore reprocessing and management of the returned vitrified wastes. To manage the large inventory of spent OPAL fuel generated, ANSTO has entered into a long term contract with Orano for the transportation and reprocessing of the OPAL spent fuel, with provisions included for the return of vitrified waste. The first transport of OPAL SNF to La Hague in France was performed in July 2018. Further transports are scheduled to be conducted at intervals of 6-7 years. This paper will provide an overview of the management of spent fuel in Australia and cover the preparation that facilitated the first transport of OPAL SNF to La Hague in 2018. It will address aspects such as processing considerations, regulatory and governmental approvals, operational planning and execution.