Introduction Safe operation of a nuclear reactor depends to a large extent on the behaviour of different fission products generated within the fuel. While most of the fission products settle down as dissolved state in the fuel matrix or as separate phases, the gaseous products, xenon(Xe), and krypton(Kr), and the volatile products, iodine(I), tellurium(Te), cesium(Cs), and rubidium(Rb), underg...

Nuclear power plants alone are not a proliferation risk. Without enrichment or reprocessing capabilities, power-reactor fuel, whether fresh or spent, cannot be used for the production of nuclear weapons. There are various ways, however, in which reactor projects and related nuclear fuel-cycle facilities could be used to further a nuclear-weapons development programme. This chapter describes the...

Mixed oxide (MOX) nuclear fuel containing enriched uranium and isotopes of plutonium presents a challenge for monitoring occupational exposure using direct in vivo measurements because photons from U and Am will confound evaluation of plutonium in the lungs. MOX is a unique blend of enriched uranium and plutonium that can be used in place of traditional enriched uranium fuel in commercial press...

In the first and second stage nuclear program of Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), technologies are matured for Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs) and Sodium-Cooled Fast Breeder Reactors (FBRs). Pre-service-Inspection (PSI), In-Service-Inspection (ISI) and Post-Irradiation-Examination (PIE) procedures are carried out for mechanical components and structures/assemblies of these reactors, ...

Lead Slowing-Down Spectroscopy (LSDS) is a candidate for non-destructive assay of spent nuclear fuel (SNF) [4]. Research was collaborated via the Material Protection, Accounting, and Control Technology (MPACT) campaign under the Department of Energy. Researchers include: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV), R...

The so called Innovative Options, within the field of nuclear fission systems, promise radical improvements in the fuel cycle with regard to waste disposal, non-proliferation and the possibility of severe accidents. In particular, new systems based on the use of accelerators and thorium [1,2,3] have been proposed for nuclear power production and waste incineration. In this paper we consider pot...

In the first and second stage nuclear program of Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), technologies are matured for Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs) and Sodium-Cooled Fast Breeder Reactors (FBRs). Pre-service-Inspection (PSI), In-Service-Inspection (ISI) and Post-Irradiation-Examination (PIE) procedures are carried out for mechanical components and structures/assemblies of these reactors, ...

This paper summarizes the experience gained in the application of multi-criteria decision making and uncertainty treatment methods to a comparative assessment of nuclear energy systems and related nuclear fuel cycles. These judgment measures provide a means for comprehensive evaluation according to different conflicting criteria, such as costs, benefits and risks, which are inevitably associate...

Pebble Bed Reactors could allow nuclear plants to support the goal of reducing global climate change in an energy hungry world. They are small, modular, inherently safe, use a demonstrated nuclear technology and can be competitive with fossil fuels. Pebble bed reactors are helium cooled reactors that use small tennis ball size fuel balls consisting of only 9 grams of uranium per pebble to provi...

One of the issues facing the nuclear power industry is how to store spent nuclear fuel which is contaminated with radionuclides produced during nuclear fission, including caesium ((134)Cs(+), (135)Cs(+) and (137)Cs(+)) and cobalt ((60)Co(2+)). In this study, we have isolated Co(2+)- and Cs(+)-resistant bacteria from water collected from a nuclear fuel storage pond. The most resistant Cs(+) and ...