JNFL and COGEMA : A wide and Innovative Cooperation in the fields of spent fuel reprocessing and MOX...

JNFL and COGEMA : A wide and Innovative Cooperation in the fields of spent fuel reprocessing and MOX

fuel fabrication

Obninsk, 2004 July 1st

JC. PIROUXProject Deputy Director

JNFL Project

COGEMA La Hague/Program Department

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JNFL and COGEMA : A wide and Innovative Cooperation in the fields of spent fuel

reprocessing and MOX fuel fabrication

La Hague (France)

RRP (Japan)

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Contents

Status of the Rokkasho Reprocessing Plant

and J.MOX Plant

Description of the cooperation between

JNFL and COGEMA

Main results of the cooperation

Lessons learnt since the launching

of this cooperation

Rokkasho-mura

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Nominal capacity: 800 tons/year

Spent fuel storage pools started active operation in

1998

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Schedule

The Main Plant is under Tests: Chemical Tests are completed and have shown a

satisfactory behavior of the mechanical and chemical processes

Uranium Tests are scheduled to start this summer and will be followed by Active Tests.

Commercial operation is expected to start in July 2006

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Status of the J.MOX Plant

J.MOX Plant will produce PWR and BWR MOX fuel

assemblies only for Domestic Nuclear Power Stations

J.MOX Plant will be built in the ROKKASHO site of

JNFL

Construction schedule will be consistent with RRP

start-up conditions

As of today, process has been chosen, and detailed

design has been performed, in view to the licensing

procedure to be launched

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Description of the cooperation between JNFL and COGEMA for RRP

Since 1987, JNFL and COGEMA have jointly been working for the design and construction

of RRP, adapting the La Hague most advanced technology and taking into account the

Japanese rules and standards with the support of Japanese manufacturers.

On April 2001, tests period "Water Tests" started, which was the last stage of construction

At the same time, JNFL and COGEMA started comprehensive discussions targeted to agree

on a field of cooperation aiming at ensuring a smooth and safe start-up of RRP.

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Description of the cooperation between JNFL and COGEMA for RRP

In July 2001, JNFL and COGEMA signed a cooperation agreement. This cooperation, which

actually started in May 2000 by dispatching few COGEMA engineers at RRP, was

comprehensively launched in September 2001 and is scheduled to be implemented until the

end of Active Test.

This cooperation, beyond the usual assistance that a process licensor can bring to a customer,

is very unique and innovative in many fields.

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Description of the cooperation between JNFL and COGEMA for RRP:

A deep involvementVery deep involvement of COGEMA engineers and

technicians: an average of 50 engineers in COGEMA

Rokkasho Office, and about 100 people working at La

Hague, as a back-up of the COGEMA Rokkasho Team

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A tailor-made training at La HagueA 3-months tailor-made training session so-called "Model

Campaign" performed in UP3 at La Hague, on the most

complex process units. 99 JNFL operators followed one of

the 7 training sessions from September 2001 to April 2004.

Training in laboratory Training in T1 facility

Tutor

Operator

Trainee

TutorOperator

Trainee

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A tailor-made training at La HagueSuch a La Hague training is performed based on a man to

man relationship, one COGEMA Tutor for one JNFL

Trainee, supported by "Training Booklets" describing in

details each task to be carried out by each Trainee.

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A training at RokkashoTraining in the control room of RRP, on all the process

units of the Main Plant. Such training, being devoted to

gain operation skills and knowledge, started on January

2003 and will continue through Uranium and Active Tests

phases.

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A wide support on significant fields

Confirmation of the good design: Implementation since May 2000 of the "Validation Plan" approach,

which main objective is to analyze and comment the RRP chemical and mechanical process units by bringing to

JNFL the whole feed-back experience on operation and maintenance of the La Hague plants for similar units or

pieces of equipment.

Support for tests phases: Drafting of the General Test Program documents, thus bringing to JNFL the

necessary information for the performance of the different tests phases of RRP, in particular the detailed tests

sequences for the Uranium and Active Tests. The COGEMA Rokkasho team analyzes "on-line" the results of the

tests and makes recommendations to JNFL.

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A wide support on significant fields

Preparation for operation: Drafting of documents for the operation of RRP, allowing JNFL to

draw up the Unit Operating Procedures of each RRP process units.

Preparation for maintenance: Drafting of documents for the maintenance of RRP in

particular general maintenance procedures of the main RRP pieces of equipment.

Information System : providing JNFL with the most updated view of the whole La Hague

Information System (IS), including the history and the reasons of evolutions since the start-up of

UP3 Plant. Selecting with JNFL, out of this IS, several Computer Systems for RRP.

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The "Common Target"Implementation of a common approach which purpose is to confirm that JNFL is ready to pass

through Uranium and Active Tests. Such approach, so-called "Common Target" , is focusing on

4 main fields

Design/hardware

Training/preparation for operation

Organization: forming of teams, adequations of skills

Organization: management

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Description of the cooperation for J.MOX

JNFL and COGEMA have initiated another cooperation

for the MOX fuel fabrication plant J.MOX in view to

recycle the plutonium recovered from the reprocessing

of Japanese spent fuel at RRP

Up to now the cooperation has been developed in 3

fields:

Transfer of proven technology

Technical support during R&D tests

MOX plant operation experience

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Transfer of the proven technology of MELOX

commercial plant which produces high quality MOX fuel

giving total satisfaction in PWR and BWR.

MELOX plant has produced since 1995 about 800 tHM of MOX fuel pellets. Its authorized capacity was increased to 145 tHM in September 2003

The technology transfer for J.MOX encompasses key steps of MOX powder preparation and MOX pellet fabrication

The content of comprehensive technical files was explained and detailed by COGEMA/MELOX experts during a period spent in Japan in the offices of NFI the engineering company in charge of J.MOX Project

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Technical support during R&D tests performed in Japan

COGEMA/MELOX experts have provided advices about test program, test operating conditions and test results

Laboratory scale tests with 50%PuO2 – 50%UO2 microwave

heated powder which will be used at J.MOX, to check MOX pellet quality

Full-scale tests with representative UO2 powders in

particular to check full-scale equipment

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Description of the cooperation for J.MOX:

MOX Plant Operation Experience

Valuable information about powder preparation and

pellet fabrication gained from the operation of MELOX

plant the world leader MOX fuel fabrication plant is

available for J.MOX plant

This information is about actual production, changes of

operating conditions, main operational problems and

corrective actions, etc…

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Main results of the cooperation for RRP: Example of the training in FranceTraining at La Hague: satisfaction of JNFL

(based on 22 questions answered by each Trainee)

MC1: 82 %; MC2: 92 %; MC3: 94 %; MC4: 97 %; MC5: 99 %; MC6 : 96; %; MC7: 99 %

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

MC1 MC2 MC3 MC4 MC5 MC6 MC7

Totaly disagree Partialy disagree Partialy agree Totally agree

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Training at La Hague: satisfaction of JNFL

Statement of one Trainee:

"Rokkasho plant is designed by French engineers taking into account Japanese ideas. In UP3 we did carry out real process control operating tasks, and learnt how to react in case of process drifts. We are now aware that running such a plant is not so difficult. We had already gained a theoretical knowledge. Throughout this training, this knowledge has turned to confidence".

One can also notice the very positive reactions from the Japanese Authorities who visited the La Hague plant and witnessed this training.

Main results of the cooperation for RRP:Example of the training in France

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Training in Japan is becoming very efficient and is

helping JNFL to implement its "cascade" training to be

performed from the operator that went to LH for MCs

training to the whole JNFL operating staff.

Main results of the cooperation for RRP:Example of the training in Japan

La Hague (FRANCE) RRP (JAPAN)

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Main results of the cooperation for RRP: Example of the common approach

On the "Common Target" approach, about 180 recommendations

have been identified to be performed and checked before the

start-up of Uranium Tests phase, and they have been taken into

account.

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The technology transfer has been smoothly implemented

in particular thanks to COGEMA/MELOX experts

dispatched to Japan

The tests have demonstrated that the MELOX plant

technology is fully compatible with the 50% PuO2 –

50% UO2 microwave heated powder which will be

produced at RRP

Main results of the cooperation for J.MOX

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Lessons learnt since the launchingof this wide cooperation:

Conclusion

For both management JNFL and COGEMA, these

cooperations are considered as a major stake. There is a

clear common will of success.

It is the entrance of maturity of a long-term relationship

between the two companies.

JNFL and COGEMA : A wide and Innovative Cooperation in the fields of spent fuel reprocessing and MOX...

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