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

Kayano, Masashi 

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