NEA Mandates and Structures
Expert Group on Fuel Recycling Chemistry
| Chair(s): |
Robin J. TAYLOR, United Kingdom
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Secretary: |
Stéphanie CORNET
(stephanie.cornet@oecd-nea.org)
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| Member(s): | All NEA member countries* |
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| Russia (Suspended*) |
| *Russian Federation suspended pursuant to a decision of the OECD Council. |
| Full participant(s): |
European Commission
Under the NEA Statute
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| Observer(s)(International Organisation): |
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
By agreement
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| Date of creation: | 01 June 2012 |
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| End of mandate: | 30 June 2019 |
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Mandate (Document reference):
- Approved at the 23rd meeting of the Nuclear Science Committee in June 2012 [NEA/SEN/NSC(2012)3]
- Approved at the 11th Meeting of the Working Party on Scientific Issues of the Fuel Cycle in February 2013 [NEA/SEN/NSC/WPFC(2013)2]
- Extended at the 12th Meeting of the Working Party on Scientific Issues of the Fuel Cycle in February 2014 [NEA/SEN/NSC/WPFC(2014)2/REV1]
- Extended at the 27th meeting of the Nuclear Science Committee in June 2016 [NEA/SEN/NSC(2016)2]
- Modified at the 15th Meeting of the Working Party on Scientific Issues of the Fuel Cycle in February 2017 [NEA/SEN/NSC/WPFC(2017)2]
- Mandate of the Expert Group on Fuel Recycling Chemistry [NEA/SEN/NSC/WPFC(2018)1]
Mandate (Document extract):
Extract from document [NEA/SEN/NSC/WPFC(2018)1]
Objectives and scope
Under the guidance of the Nuclear Science Committee (NSC) and the mandate of the Working Party on Scientific Issues of the Fuel Cycle (WPFC), the Expert Group on Fuel Recycling Chemistry (EGFRC) will focus on the separation processes relevant to recycling technologies for spent nuclear fuel including waste treatment, recycling and reuse of spent fuel components but excluding long term (dry/wet) spent fuel storage technologies.
The expert group will perform technical assessments of separation processes in applications related to current and future nuclear fuel cycles and recommend collaborative international efforts to further processes development and deployment.
The expert group will provide scientific information to cover technical issues associated with:
- Separation technologies, including processing issues for different nuclear fuels and fuel cycles comprising aqueous, pyrochemical and hybrid-combination scenarios.
- Assessment of treating and managing residual wastes, emissions and effluents arising from the recycling processes (including reduction of waste from structural materials).
- Update information on the developments needed to meet the requirements for implementing long-term sustainable nuclear fuel cycles, including partitioning and transmutation.
- Evaluation of (1) advanced head-end requirements for separating spent fuel components from new types of reactors, and (2) requirements for quality and forms of separated components that are needed for fabrication of new types of recycle fuels.
Activities
- Perform a study on processes related to multi-recycling and transmutations.
- Perform benchmark studies on process flow diagrams: i.e. a study on safety case and integration studies on separation processes to identify weak points in order to optimise process flowsheets.
- Compile a database of extractants for spent fuel reprocessing.
- Perform a review and assessment of treatment and minimisation of residual wastes arising from recycling processes.
- Carry out an evaluation of requirements for separating components for the fabrication of new types of recycle fuels.
- Perform a review of the current state of development of analytical methods for the control of spent nuclear fuel (SNF) reprocessing; on-line and off-line modes, accounting and control of fissile materials.
Links
The expert group will liaise closely with other NEA expert groups under the guidance and the Nuclear Science Committee (NSC) and the WPFC experts groups (EGAFCS, EGISM, EGIF) and the Radioactive Waste Management Committee (RWMC) in order to ensure complementary programmes of work, provide advice and support where required and undertake joint work where appropriate.
The expert group will also work in co-operation with the IAEA Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology Section, the Generation IV International Forum (GIF) and with different EU initiatives (essentially the Sustainable Nuclear Energy and Implementation of Geological Disposal Technology Platforms (SNE-TP and IGD-TP)) carried out through the European Union Framework Programme for Research and Innovation Horizon 2020
Deliverables
- Report on potential options for treatment and conditioning of corium (current techniques, options for reprocessing, conditioning and storage).
- Report on treatment of volatile fission products.
- Review of international R&D facilities opened to international co-operation for advanced fuel cycles and allowing the manipulation of at least 1 gram of TRU and/or SNF.
- International review on recycle and reuse of components from spent fuels.
- Database of actinides extractants for reprocessing spent nuclear fuel.
- Report on the reduction of waste from structural materials.
- Report on processes related to multi-recycling and transmutations (in collaboration with other WPFC expert groups).
- Review of the current state of development of analytical methods for the control of SNF reprocessing.
