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Japan. France & USA sign agreement on actinide research

by Mr Chris Dockree @ 11/02/2008 17:28:22

Japan. France & USA sign agreement on actinide research

Japan, France and the USA have signed an agreement to carry out research into using minor actinides in Fast Breeder Reactor (FBR) units.
The agreement, which lasts five years, was signed between the Japan Atomic Energy Agency, the US Department of Energy and the Commissariat a l’Energie Atomique (French Atomic Energy Commission or CEA).
The project is to be carried out under a Generation IV International Forum (GIF) agreement signed in February 2006 on collaboration in the field of sodium-cooled fast reactor systems.
Researchers are aiming to eventually irradiate fuel assemblies at Japan’s prototype Monju FBR. The experimental Joyo FBR will also be used for the project. The Japan Atomic Industrial Forum said research will begin with the measurement of the physical properties of fuel with minor actinides. Work will also include the fabrication of test fuel and the preparation and procedures for carrying out irradiation tests using Monju.
The US will provide the minor actinide materials, while France will produce fuel pins and Japan will provide facilities for the irradiation tests.
The ‘minor actinides’ are the actinide elements contained in used nuclear fuel (excepting uranium and plutonium, which are the ‘major actinides’). The use of minor actinides in fast breeder reactors would result in the ‘burning’ of these isotopes, making radioactive waste from reprocessing less toxic and much faster to decay. It would also allow many more recycling cycles and therefore more efficient use of uranium resources. More about this in the next issue of Nuclear Future.