ML21145A378

Advanced Reactors GEIS Docs - NRC - Fuel Fabrication

ML21145A378
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Issue date:	05/25/2021
From:	NRC
To:	NRC/NMSS/DREFS
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From: Giacinto, Joseph Sent: Tuesday, May 25, 2021 2:08 PM To: AdvancedReactors-GEISDocsPEm Resource

Subject:

NRC - Fuel Fabrication Attachments: NRC 2020Fuel Fab.pdf

Fuel Fabrication l NRC.gov REPORT A SAFETY CONCERN Search Home Nuclear Materials Fuel Cycle Facilities Fuel Fabrication Fuel fabrication facilities convert enriched uranium into fuel for nuclear reactors. Fabrication also can involve mixed R[LGH 02; IXHOZKLFKLVDFRPELQDWLRQRIXUDQLXPDQGSOXWRQLXP15&UHJXODWHVVHYHUDOGLHUHQWW\SHVRI nuclear fuel fabrication operations.

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Low-Enriched Uranium Fuel Fabrication Facilities Category 1 Fuel Fabrication Facilities Mixed Oxide Fuel Fabrication Non-Power Reactor Fuel Safety Concerns at Fabrication Facilities See Locations of Fuel Cycle FacilitiesIRUDOLRIIXHOF\FOHIDFLOLWLHVOLFHQVHGE\15&

Low-Enriched Uranium Fuel Fabrication Facilities Fuel fabrication for light water reactors (LWR) (regular commercial power reactors) typically begins with the receipt RIORZHQULFKHGXUDQLXPLQWKHFKHPLFDOIRUPRIXUDQLXPKH[DXRULGH 8)6), from an enrichment plant. The UF6, in solid form in containers, is heated to gaseous form, and then the UF6 gas is chemically processed to form uranium dioxide (UO2) powder. This powder is then pressed into pellets, sintered into ceramic form, loaded into Zircaloy WXEHVDQGFRQUXFWHGLQWRIXHODVVHPEOLHV'HSHQGLQJRQWKHW\SHRIOLJKWZDWHUUHDFWRU²ZKHWKHULW VDboiling-water reactor or a pressurized-water reactora fuel assembly may contain up to 264 fuel rods and have dimensions of 5 to 9 inches square by about 12 to 14 feet long.

Three fuel fabrication plants processing low-enriched uranium are currently licensed by the NRC: Global Nuclear Fuel-Americas in Wilmington, North Carolina; :HLQJKRXVH&ROXPELD)XHO)DEULFDWLRQ)DFLOLW\ in Columbia, South Carolina; and Framatome, Inc., in Richland, Washington. These facilities are also called Category 3 Fuel Facilities.

AREVA Lynchburg was a fuel fabrication facility that had operated under NRC purview and was located in https://www.nrc.gov/materials/fuel-cycle-fac/fuel-fab.html[1/26/2021 11:47:10 AM]

Fuel Fabrication l NRC.gov https://www.nrc.gov/materials/fuel-cycle-fac/fuel-fab.html[1/26/2021 11:47:10 AM]

Fuel Fabrication l NRC.gov https://www.nrc.gov/materials/fuel-cycle-fac/fuel-fab.html[1/26/2021 11:47:10 AM]