Conclusion
The experience accumulated so far at the BN plant has demonstrated the commercial viability of MOX fabrication. The MIMAS process developed is suited for commercial use considering the particularity of the MOX fabrication technology and the variability of the plutonium as received from reprocessing. The same process has therefore been choosen by COGEMA for the MELOX plant in Marcoule and for CFCa in Cadarache.
The irradiation of MIMAS MOX fuel in commercial reactors as well as experimental tests have also proven its quality and performance (no failure and an ability to behave similarly to UOj). Due to the neutronic particularities of plutonium and also to minor differences in its other properties, the design has to be adapted and an increased experimental data base is still required. This is being undertaken through international programmes organized by BN on PWR and BWR fuels, and by extensive examinations performed by the French industry on 17x17 PWR fuel.
Finally, the future prospects have been reported. To answer such new requests, the necessary changes are being implemented at the Dessel plant.
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