Erlangen 2018 – scientific programme

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AGA: Arbeitsgruppe Physik und Abrüstung

AGA 8: Nonproliferation and Research Reactor Conversion

AGA 8.1: Talk

Friday, March 9, 2018, 10:30–11:00, B 0.014

The German Research Reactor FRM-II and the Use of High Enriched Uranium (HEU) Fuel — •Friederike Frieß — Institut für Sicherheits- und Risikowissenschaften, BOKU Wien

The design of the research reactor FRM-II in Munich took place when the norm against using highly enriched uranium (HEU) as fuel for research reactors was already widely accepted. Yet, the FRM-II went critical in 2004 using HEU. The operating license, however, included the requirement to convert the FRM-II to low enriched uranium (LEU) fuel until the end of 2010. This deadline has been extended to 2018. This conversion deadline will not be met either. The operation of a research reactor using HEU does not only undermine international non-proliferation policy, it also bears several problems such as the fuel supply and the spent fuel management.

The FRM-II influenced several recent developments such as Russia's renewed efforts to enrich to HEU and the change in German nuclear legislation in 2017.