Exporting Technology for CANDU Fuel Manufacturing to the People's Republic of China-A Stimulating Experience for the Romanian Nuclear Fuel Plant

Abstract

Adopting CANDU type reactors to produce nuclear-generated electricity, Romania has also developed his capability to produce nuclear fuel. Since 1995, FCN Pitesti is the unique nuclear fuel supplier for Cernavoda CANDU Power Station. Fuel plant upgrading and qualification was achieved in co-operation with AECL and Zircatec Precision Industries Inc. The fuel bundles manufactured at FCN Pitesti proved to be of excellent quality, operating with a very low defect rate, all defected fuel being reported in the first period of the reactor operation. It is a fact now that FCN has the capability to solve a wide variety of aspects one of the most significant being the development of new equipment and the increase of the capacity in order to cover the future nuclear fuel needs. On this basis FCN was invited to contribute with his potential to a supplying contract with China National Nuclear Corporation - 202 Plant, for CANDU nuclear fuel technology. Following an offer including several categories of equipment and technology, the option was for beryllium coaters and coating technology and training for end cap manufacturing. The arrangements consider Romanian company as a sub-supplier, this option ensuring the consistence with the largest part of the supply for CANDU fuel technology, offered by Zircatec. Two pieces of beryllium coaters have been produced and tested in Romania and the operating demonstration was made in the presence of Zircatec staff and Chinese delegates. The Chinese delegated were trained for complete operating modes and their ability to handle the equipment was certified accordingly. They also have been trained in the end cap technology and related quality inspection. The paper includes a short presentation of the equipment and associated work to fit the specified needs. The involvement of the Romanian fuel plant in this contract could be considered as an extension of the previous co-operation with the Canadian partners on CANDU nuclear fuel and finally contributes to a wider co-operation bringing together people from different countries.