Evaluation of UF6-TO-UO2 conversion capability at commercial nuclear fuelfabrication facilities

摘要

This report examines the capabilities of existing commercial nuclear fuelfabrication facilities to convert depleted uranium hexafluoride (UF(sub 6)) to uranium oxide (UO(sub 2)). The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) needs this information to determine whether using such capacity to convert DOE's inventory of depleted UF(sub 6) to a more stable form is a reasonable alternative that should be considered in the site-specific environmental impact statement for construction and operation of depleted UF(sub 6) conversion facilities. Publicly available information sources were consulted to ascertain the information summarized in this report. For domestic facilities, the information summarized includes currently operating capacity to convert depleted UF(sub 6) to UO(sub 2); transportation distances from depleted UF(sub 6) storage locations near Oak Ridge, Tennessee, Portsmouth, Ohio, and Paducah, Kentucky, to the facilities; and regulatory requirements applicable to nuclear fuel fabrication and transportation of depleted UF(sub 6). The report concludes that the total currently operating capability of U.S. commercial nuclear fuel fabricators to convert UF(sub 6) to UO(sub 2) is approximately 5,200 metric tons of UF(sub 6) per annum (tUF(sub 6)/a). This total includes 666 tUF(sub 6)/a scheduled for shutdown by the end of 2001. However, only about 300 tUF(sub 6)/a of this capacity could be confirmed as being possibly available to DOE. The report also provides some limited descriptions of the capabilities of foreign fuel fabrication plants to convert UF(sub 6) to uranium oxide forms.