MK-III初装荷燃料ペレット製造実績と開発成果

Results of Current Fabrication Technology Developments and MOX Fuel Fabrication for JOYO MK-III Initial Load Fuel

茅野 雅志 

Kayano, Masashi

プルトニウム燃料第三開発室ペレット製造工程では燃料製造を通じてFBR燃料製造技術の開発を行っている。平成7年から平成12年にかけては処理能力の向上を目的に、老朽化設備の大幅な更新、改造、補修作業等の実施した。「常陽」MK-III初装荷炉心燃料ペレット製造はこれらの大幅な更新後、初めての燃料製造であり、本燃料製造を通じて設備性能の評価を行った。本燃料製造は計画期間内で終了できたこと、また前回燃料製造よりも高いペレット製造収率を得ることができたことから、大幅な更新によるペレット製造工程の設備性能向上が確認できた。また、本燃料製造期間中にISO9001品質保証システムの認証を取得し、品質保証体制の強化を図った。

In the plutonium fuel production facility, PFPF, MOX fuel fabrication technologies have been developed and demonstrated through MOX fuels fabrication for JOYO and MONJU since 1988. From 1995 to 2000, replacement, modification and repair work for process equipment had been carried out to improve performance of MOX pellet fabrication process in PFPF as scheduled shut-dawn maintenance. Because MOX fuel fabrication for JOYO MK-III initial load fuel was the first fuel fabrication after these major maintenance works, the performance of MOX pellet fabrication process in PFPF had been evaluated though this fuel fabrication. This MOX fuel fabrication was completed within the scheduled period and showed higher yield of product MOX pellets than before. Therefore, it was confirmed that performance of MOX pellet fabrication process in PFPF was improved by these maintenance work. Furthermore, quality assurance system for MOX fuel fabrication was strengthened by acquisition of ISO9001 certificate in