Production Test IP-803: Irradiation of enriched uranium oxide fuel elements

摘要

Operation of the Hanford site with a closed fuel cycle is under study. Both metallic and ceramic fuel elements are being considered. The main effort will be to develop the metallic fuel cycle because of its production advantages. Oxide fuel work will primarily consist of the development and demonstration of fuel designs. This production test authorizes the initial irradiation of uranium oxide fuel elements in a K Reactor to obtain preliminary fuel design data. The objective of the production test is to authorize the irradiation of aluminum-clad, uranium oxide fuel elements to obtain preliminary oxide fuel design and performance data.