"Compacting structural and technological waste, processing active liquid effluents" Technological sheet
Bruno Jean, pellet controller (France)
Enrichment: increasing the proportion of U235
The majority of reactors use uranium containing between 3% and 5% uranium-235 as fuel. Natural uranium contains only 0.7%. It is therefore necessary to increase the concentration of uranium-235 to obtain a fuel that can be used in nuclear reactors. This is called enrichment. 2 industrial processes are currently in use around the world: gaseous diffusion and centrifugation.
Isotopic transformation of uranium
Natural uranium contains only a small amount of the fissile isotope U235. This must be increased to allow the reactivity of the fuel.
2 industrial uranium enrichment processes
Gaseous diffusion and centrifugation are the 2 industrial enrichment processes currently in use. While the former is more frequently used, the latter provides better performance.
"Notre métier, enrichir l'uranium" brochure [FR]
Enrichment allows natural uranium to be converted into nuclear fuel. By moving from gaseous diffusion to centrifugation, AREVA is carrying out a major transition and is confirming its position as a benchmark operator within the nuclear industry.
