jnfl and cogema : a wide and innovative cooperation in the fields of spent fuel reprocessing and mox...
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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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Status of the Rokkasho Reprocessing Plant
Nominal capacity: 800 tons/year
Spent fuel storage pools started active operation in
1998
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Status of the Rokkasho Reprocessing Plant
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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Description of the cooperation between JNFL and COGEMA for RRP:
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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Description of the cooperation between JNFL and COGEMA for RRP:
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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Description of the cooperation between JNFL and COGEMA for RRP:
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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Description of the cooperation between JNFL and COGEMA for RRP:
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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Description of the cooperation between JNFL and COGEMA for RRP:
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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Description of the cooperation between JNFL and COGEMA for RRP:
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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Description of the cooperation for J.MOX
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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Description of the cooperation for J.MOX
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.