MOx Fuel Line Reference number: NNLC123

The current Fuel Line located in National Nuclear Laboratory's (NNL's) Central Laboratory was designed and installed in the mid-2000's in Area 400 to provide research and development (R&D) support to Sellafield Mixed Oxide (MOx) Plant (SMP), which utilised the Short Binderless Route (SBR) for producing MOx. However, the Fuel Line was never fully commissioned and has remained in a state of Care and Maintenance (C&M) since then.

The intent is to re-purpose the above existing fuel line, whilst keeping certain elements embedded within the design.

The scope of the works required is therefore to Design, Install and Commission the Fuel Line for future usage by the NDA.

Additional information: The current Fuel Line located in NNL's Central Laboratory was designed and installed in the mid-2000's in Area 400 to provide R&D support to SMP, which utilised the Short Binderless Route for producing MOx. However, the Fuel Line was never fully commissioned and has remained in a state of Care and Maintenance since then.

NDA is responsible for the current civil plutonium stockpile and is currently considering options for plutonium disposition including reusing the material within new MOx fuel or immobilising within an inert matrix suitable for disposal within a GDF.

For reuse in MOx fuel, NDA is investigating the possibility of production of MOx for LWR type reactors.

NDA has requested that NNL investigate re-purposing the current Fuel Line for the new dual purpose of making fuel-quality LWR or disposal-grade MOx through the use of an industrially proven Masterblend process, but also retain the SBR type equipment to allow as many powder processing options to remain open for reactor or disposal-grade MOx to be developed.

The works contract is compiled of the following stages:

• Design stages (Preliminary and Detailed)
• Procurement of Materials, Fabrications and Subcontracts for the works - Certain materials and fabrication packages will carry Contract Quality Requirements (CQR) grade 2
• Supply of Equipment, Labour and Plant for the works
• Works mobilisation
• Installation of works
• Commissioning of works (Inactive and active)