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CHIPS: Characterization of High Enriched Pu Rods
The purpose of the project on the "Characterization of High Enriched Pu Rods", also called "CHIPS" is to clarify the irradiation behaviour including physical property change on MOX fuel having high plutonium content under high burnup condition and to obtain the technical data for safety regulation and/or licensing in Japan. The project started in JFY 2007 and will continue until JFY 2011.
In the last BR3 cycle (July 1986 to July 1987), MOX fuel rods from a fabrication lot enriched to 14% (Pu/(U+Pu)) were loaded. A subset of these rods was further irradiated in the CALLISTO loop of the BR-2 reactor between 1997 and 2001. The CALLISTO loop simulates the conditions of a PWR (temperature, pressure, water chemistry, neutron flux and spectrum). For the CHIPS project, three rods were selected for a detailed characterisation, post-irradiation examinations and further irradiation extension.
The Japan Nuclear Energy Safety Organization (JNES) sponsors the CHIPS Programme, which is carried out by SCK•CEN and shall make use of the SCK•CEN facilities at Mol, Belgium.
Website: www.sckcen.be/chips/
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