ML21145A400

Advanced Reactors GEIS Docs - NRC - Uranium Conversion

ML21145A400
Person / Time
Issue date:	05/25/2021
From:	NRC
To:	NRC/NMSS/DREFS
References
Download: ML21145A400 (2)

Text

From: Giacinto, Joseph Sent: Tuesday, May 25, 2021 2:09 PM To: AdvancedReactors-GEISDocsPEm Resource

Subject:

NRC - Uranium Conversion Attachments: NRC 2020 U Conv.pdf

Uranium Conversion l NRC.gov REPORT A SAFETY CONCERN Search Home Nuclear Materials Fuel Cycle Facilities Uranium Conversion After the uranium ore concentrate is produced at the mill (where it becomes uranium oxide or "yellow cake"), it is packaged in 55 gallon drums and sent to the uranium conversion plant. At the conversion facility, the yellow cake is SURFHVVHGDQGLVWKHQUHDFWHGZLWKXRULQHWRFUHDWHXUDQLXPKH[DXRULGH 8)6). Uranium, in the chemical form of UF6, is suitable for use in enrichment operations and is the desired product. The UF6 exits the process as a gas ZKLFKLVWKHQFRROHGWRDOLTXLGDQGGUDLQHGLQWRWRQRUDJHDQGWUDQVSRUWF\OLQGHUV$VWKH8) 6 cools over the FRXUVHRI¿YHGD\VLWWUDQVLWLRQVIURPDOLTXLGWRDVROLG7KHF\OLQGHUZLWK8) 6 in the solid form, can then be shipped to an enrichment plant.

As with mining and milling, the primary risks associated with conversion are more chemical than radiological. The process to convert uranium ore concentrate (uranium oxide) powder to UF6 involves a number of volatile and VROXEOHFKHPLFDOVLQFOXGLQJXRULQHK\GURXRULFDFLGDQGXUDQ\OXRULGH7KHVHFKHPLFDOIRUPVFRQWULEXWHWRULVNV associated with inhalation if a release occurred. In addition, the conversion process uses hydrogen gas (a gas that LVDPPDEOHDQGFRXOGFUHDWHDQH[SORVLRQKD]DUG 1XFOHDUFULWLFDOLW\LVQRWDKD]DUGDWWKHVHIDFLOLWLHVEHFDXVHWKH QXFOHDUPDWHULDOFRQVLVRInatural uranium throughout the process. Therefore, criticality is not possible.

There is one commercial uranium conversion plant in the United States. The plant is Honeywell International Inc.

DQGLWLVORFDWHGLQ0HWURSROLV,OOLQRLV7KLVSODQWLVFXUUHQWO\LQLGOHUHDG\DWXV

3DJH/D5HYLHZHG8SGDWHG:HGQHVGD\'HFHPEHU

SECTION NAVIGATION +

Choose a Section https://www.nrc.gov/materials/fuel-cycle-fac/ur-conversion.html[1/26/2021 11:56:15 AM]