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NRC approves TerraPower construction permit
Today, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission announced that it has approved TerraPower’s construction permit application for Kemmerer Unit 1, the company’s first deployment of Natrium, its flagship sodium fast reactor.
This approval is a significant milestone on three fronts. For TerraPower, it represents another step forward in demonstrating its technology. For the Department of Energy, it reflects progress (despite delays) for the Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program (ARDP). For the NRC, it is the first approval granted to a commercial reactor in nearly a decade—and the first approval of a commercial non–light water reactor in more than 40 years.
Koichi Asakura, Yoshiyuki Kato, Hirotaka Furuya
Nuclear Technology | Volume 162 | Number 3 | June 2008 | Pages 265-275
Technical Paper | Fuel Cycle and Management | doi.org/10.13182/NT08-A3955
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
The characteristics and sinterability of UO2-PuO2 mixed oxide (MH-MOX) powder prepared by the microwave heating denitration method were measured and compared with those of UO2 (ADU-UO2) powder prepared by the ADU method. Furthermore, the degree of surface roughness and flowability of MH-MOX powder were evaluated and also compared with those of ADU-UO2 powder. The degree of surface roughness of ADU-UO2 powder calcined at temperatures >700°C significantly decreased, and its sintered density also dropped below 80% theoretical density. However, the degree of surface roughness and sinterability of MH-MOX powder calcined at 950°C were higher than those of ADU-UO2 powder. These results could be understood using the concept of Hüttig and Tamman temperatures, which is commonly cited for ceramic materials. The flowabilities of MH-MOX and ADU-UO2 powders decreased with an increase of compressibility, and they were categorized as non-free-flowing according to Carr's theory on powder flowability. It is, therefore, necessary for the mixed powder of MH-MOX powder, ADU-UO2 powder, and dry recycled MOX scrap powder to be granulated to provide a free-flowing feed to the pelletizing press in the MOX pellet fabrication process.
