Application of microwave heating to MOX fuel production and its contribution to Japanese energy strategy

Suzuki, Masahiro ; Ishii, Katsunori ; Yamamoto, Takuma; Kihara, Yoshiyuki; Kato, Yoshiyuki ; Kurita, Tsutomu ; Yoshimoto, Katsunobu; Fujii, Kanichi

The natural resources, oil and uranium, would dry up around the midway of this century. FBR cycle most probably rescues this difficult situation. Mass production of MOX fuel for FBR, therefore, is the supreme subject to Japanese energy strategy. For this subject, we are attacking with Microwave heating technology. Up to present, we have succeeded to produce excellent PuO/UO bulk, 2 kgMOX/batch, advancing toward the mass production target, 5 kgU/h for one batch.