MOx Fuel Line

Concepts

• warrington
• mechanical engineering
• geological disposal facility
• nuclear decommissioning authority
• mox fuel line
• nuclear fuels
• current fuel line
• above existing fuel line
• mox pellets
• new mox fuel

Location

West Cumbria:

Description

The current Fuel Line located in National Nuclear Laboratory’s (NNL’s) Central Laboratory was designed and installed in the mid-2000’s in Area 400 to provide research and development (R&D) support to Sellafield Mixed Oxide (MOx) Plant (SMP), which utilised the Short Binderless Route (SBR) for producing MOx. However, the Fuel Line was never fully commissioned and has remained in a state of Care and Maintenance (C&M) since then. The intent is to re-purpose the above existing fuel line, whilst keeping certain elements embedded within the design. The scope of the works required is therefore to Design, Install and provide technical support to Commissioning for the Fuel Line for future usage by the NDA

Total Quantity or Scope

Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) is responsible for the current civil plutonium stockpile. It is currently considering options for plutonium disposition including reusing the material within new MOx fuel (<12.5 w/w % Pu) for LWR type reactors, or immobilising within a well-engineered inert matrix, suitable for disposal within a Geological Disposal Facility (GDF). There is also the option of making “disposal-grade” MOx pellets for disposal within a Geological Disposal Facility (GDF) as an alternative to immobilisation within a ceramic, such as zirconolite, currently being pursued through hot isostatic pressing (HIP). After over 60 years of reprocessing, there are a wide range of plutonium dioxide product cans of varying ages, plutonium vectors, impurities and with a spectrum of fidelity on analytical information depending on the requirements of the time. As such, there is a need to demonstrate that each subset of material families can be made into a MOx ceramic pellets suitable for use in reactors or for disposal. With this mission ahead and range of options still available, it is important to have a flexible research and development MOx line to build experience of making ceramic MOx pellets for reuse or disposal with the full range of the plutonium stockpile. The line will have the dual purpose of making LWR fuel quality pellets (<12.5 w/w % Pu) or disposal-grade MOx using an industrially proven process, but also retain the existing SBR type equipment to allow as many powder processing options to remain open for reactor or disposal-grade MOx pellets to be developed. A single works contract for the full scope of the works will be awarded to the successful Supplier, under which the supplier will be required to deliver the following elements: • Preliminary Design • Detailed Design • Procurement • Assembly/Manufacture • Offsite testing • On site installation & testing • Design and Technical Support to Commissioning and Handover; and • Training The contract will be split into 3 Sections, under the NEC3 ECC optional clause X5 (Section Completion): • Section 1 – Completion of Preliminary Design • Section 2 – Completion of Detailed Design • Section 3 – Completion of the remainder of the Works

CPV Codes

• 45351000 - Mechanical engineering installation works
• 09340000 - Nuclear fuels
• 45251110 - Nuclear-power station construction work
• 45300000 - Building installation work
• 71300000 - Engineering services
• 71321000 - Engineering design services for mechanical and electrical installations for buildings
• 71323200 - Plant engineering design services
• 71350000 - Engineering-related scientific and technical services

Indicators

• This is a one-off contract (no recurrence)
• Renewals are not available.
• Professional qualifications are sought.
• Staff qualifications are relevant.

Other Information

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