The Thorium-Uranium Recycle Facility

Abstract

The Thorium-Uranium Recycle Facility provides sufficient space and other facilities for the simultaneous testing and demonstration of two processes for the remote processing of fuel elements^ fuel reconstitution^ and refabrication into fuel asseiiiblies. Process equipment will be located in two large remotely maintained cells ^ and two smaller directly maintained cells. An unshielded cell and a shielded service cell with a JO special remote crane and manipulator system are provided to achie-ve easy 3 removal and installation of remotely maintained equipment. Speci'al. pro™•^ visions have been made for future conversion of these cells to inert atmosphere^ for replacement of the viewing window gas seal plates^ and for H '^ extinguishing cell fires.

Deep-Burn Modular Helium Reactor Fuel Development Plan

“…Remote coated particle fabrication experience was developed in the Thorium/Uranium Recycle Facility at ORNL through the 1970s (Irvine 1965, Lotts 1977. No irradiation test data are available for TF fuels; therefore, larger safety factors are included to account for the greater uncertainty in both the as-manufactured quality and the in-service performance.…”

“…During the 1960s and 1970s the interest in the Th-U fuel cycle, and thus the recycle of U-233, required remote fuel fabrication. A hot-cell complex, then called the Thorium-Uranium Recycle Facility (TURF, presently called Bldg.7930 of the Radiochemical Engineering Development Facility (REDC), was built for this express purpose (Irvine 1965, Haws 1967. Near the end of the Th-U program a particularly favorable technology for remote fabrication was developed (Lotts 1977).…”

Reviews

“…Apart from the doubt about this (it actually comes between the South Arabian Salhen and the African Siamo, and could belong to either group), there is no mention of Irvine's important article on the Habashat, which throws strong doubt on this Arabian Habashat, and is a necessary addition to the bibliography (see Irvine, 1965).…”

Fabrication and Irradiation Testing of Sol--Gel Fuels at Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

“…The Vl-Fac development culminated in the fabrication of 1100 Zircaloy-2-clad rods containing (Th-J% 23 3u)0 2 fuel packed to 90% of theoretical density in the semiremote "Kilorod" facility. ·In addition, a remote system was designed for Vi-Pac fabrication of metal-clad fuel rods in the ThoriumUranium Recycle Facility (TURF) 9 recently constructed at ORNL. vibratory energy is applied.…”