UK Plutonium- 75 Years of Science, Technology, Politics and Policy
| Dates: | 14 February 2024 |
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| Times: | 14:00 - 15:00 |
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| What is it: | Seminar |
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| Organiser: | Faculty of Science and Engineering |
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| Who is it for: | University staff, Current University students |
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Prof Francis Livens. Watch the recording: https://youtu.be/p6kqU2VsU8c?si=w3oCm05678BCcgKe
Abstract:
The UK has manufactured and used plutonium for around 75 years, initially for military purposes. Subsequently, the use of metal-fuelled Magnox reactors for power generation led to accumulation of a large stockpile of separated plutonium, with Magnox reprocessing ending only in 2022. In the early years of nuclear power, there was a view that the uranium price would rise so much that fast neutron reactors would become economic, and one option was the use of plutonium fuel in these ‘fast breeder’ reactors. The uranium price did not rise as expected and the fast reactor programme was ended in 1994. From 1994 to 2018, the UK also operated a commercial reprocessing plant for oxide fuel (THORP) and this also led to accumulation of stockpiled plutonium. As a result, today, the UK has 140 tonnes of stored plutonium, the largest separated civilian stockpile on Earth and is developing options for managing this material. This talk will cover the rationale, history and technology of plutonium production, the nature of the different components of the stockpile, and options for its management, including technical questions which need to be answered to support future decision making.
Travel and Contact Information
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Theatre D
Simon Building
Manchester
