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Reducing the Use of Highly Enriched Uranium in Civilian Research Reactors (2016) / Chapter Skim
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1 Background and Study Task
Pages 9-20

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From page 9...
... The main civilian applications that use special nuclear material (primarily HEU) are research reactors, targets for medical isotope production, and propulsion systems for remote missions.
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From page 10...
... However, to accomplish their basic mission of producing large numbers of neutrons over a sustained period of time, HEU fuel is used because, with currently qualified fuels, it allows for the design of compact reactors with higher neutron fluxes. Research reactors are used for training and education, irradiation of materials, and extracted beam applications (IAEA, 2014)
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From page 11...
... ,7 it was agreed that two studies would be conducted to support this mandate: one on medical isotope production without HEU targets and the other on the conversion of research reactors to LEU. These studies were separated because efforts to eliminate HEU use in research reactor fuel ­ and medical isotope production targets are proceeding along independent lines, engage largely different technical communities, and confront different technical, economic, and regulatory challenges.
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From page 12...
... This assessment should identify key technical and non technical factors responsible for the successful conversion of reactors from HEU to LEU fuel; key obstacles to converting the remaining HEU fueled ­eactors; and steps that could be taken to overcome the identified r obstacles. tant with expertise that spans the issues relevant to the study task: materials science; nonproliferation policy; nuclear engineering; research reactor fuel design, fabrication, and qualification; reactor operations; research reactor performance analysis (e.g., neutronics, thermal hydraulic analysis, accident analysis)
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From page 13...
... , its critical assembly (ATR-C) , and the Transient Reactor Test Facility in Idaho Falls, Idaho; the University of Missouri Research Reactor in Columbia, Missouri; the Neutron Beam Split-Core Reactor at the National Institute of Standards and Technology Center for Neutron Research in Gaithersburg, Maryland; the High Flux Isotope Reactor and the Spallation Neutron Source in Oak Ridge, Tennessee; and the Y-12 National Security Complex LEU fuel fabrication line, also in Oak Ridge.
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From page 14...
... • Planned research reactors using HEU fuel were identified during numerous site visits and investigated through the IAEA's research 12  The committee is aware of the Fissile Material Working Group's (FMWG's) recommenda tion to expand the scope of civilian research reactors to include propulsion and propulsion systems, but this was not consistent with the committee's interpretation of its statement of task.
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From page 15...
... special nuclear materials13 in civilian applications through the Office of Material Management and Minimization.14 This office is organized into three major activities: material removal, reactor conversion, and material disposal.15 The history of the U.S. reactor conversion programs can be described by three periods and changes in management: 1978 to 2003, 2004 to 2014, and 2015 to the present.
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From page 16...
... Following many years of success in the conversion of both domesticand foreign-owned civilian research reactors, the U.S. conversion program16 has become increasingly focused on the challenges involved with the conversion of the high performance research reactors (HPRRs)
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From page 17...
... , and the M3 Office of Nuclear Material Removal is scheduled to end in 2022.20 The last research reactor conversion in the United States was in 2009, and the rate of conversions worldwide has decreased (see Chapter 5) , although permanent reactor shutdowns continue at a healthy pace.
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From page 18...
... research reactor conversion program and its evolving scope over the years. The Task 1 list (civilian research and test reactors that operate using HEU fuel)
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From page 19...
... BACKGROUND AND STUDY TASK 19 • Chapter 6 provides an assessment of the status and progress of the M3 Office of Conversion, including the progress being made to eliminate worldwide use of HEU in fuel for civilian research and test reactors, and recommendations for how the program can improve its effectiveness. • The concluding remarks in Chapter 7 highlight the continuing importance of HEU minimization and elimination in civilian reac tors, underscore the challenges still to be tackled, and point to hopeful next steps for the M3 Office of Conversion.
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Key Terms

  • research reactor
  • civilian research
  • heu fuel
  • test reactors
  • reactor conversion

  • reactor fuel
  • leu fuel
  • medical isotope
  • test reactor
  • using heu

  • conversion programs
  • isotope production
  • nuclear security
  • nuclear material
  • publicly available

  • enriched uranium
  • civilian applications
  • national nuclear
  • special nuclear
  • highly enriched

  • material management
  • global threat
  • threat reduction
  • reduction initiative
  • civilian heu

  • flux reactor
  • reactor facilities
  • reactor status
  • fuel conversion
  • fuel return


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