Page 281 - 00. Complete Version - Progress Report IPEN 2014-2016
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Nuclear Reactors and Fuel Cycle | Progress Report 281
en in respect to sample preparation, consid- the multipurpose reactor fuels. In order to
ering the huge difference of atomic number meet the demand for the reactors, a new man-
of silicon and uranium and its consequences ufacturing plant with a maximum capacity of
on X-ray scattering and phase quantification. 60 fuels per year has been designed, which is
The study includes comminution of uranium currently ten. The increase in production will
Figure 37. X-ray diffraction pattern of
uranium silicide sample, and calculated
diffractogram by the Rietveld Method.
silicide compositions by hydration, automat- consequently increase the volume of effluents
ic grinding and mortar and pestle. generated. The current concern with the en-
vironment makes it necessary to elaborate a
Analysis and Management of management plan to make the process sus-
Effluents Produced in the Nuclear tainable, which will lead to environmental,
Fuel Production Process economic and social benefits. The production
process of the fuel generates several types of
Brazil, with the purpose of becoming self-suf- effluents - containing uranium or not - being
ficient in the production of radioisotopes and solid, liquid and gaseous with varied physi-
radioactive sources used in nuclear medicine, cal and chemical characteristics. This activity
agriculture and the environment, has devel- analyses the fuel manufacturing process to
oped the project of a multipurpose reactor of characterize and quantify the generated efflu-
30 megawatts of power to meet the national ents. The objective is to elaborate a manage-
demand. At IPEN, the Centro de Combustível ment plan to deal with and to discard them
Nuclear (CCN) is responsible for manufactur- responsibly in the environment.
ing fuels for the IEA-R1 reactor and, possibly,
