Cameco Fuel Manufacturing Fact Sheet 2013
Cameco Fuel Manufacturing Pressurized heavy water reactor (PHWR) fuel, “ in-reactor” components and consulting Cameco Fuel Manufacturing Inc. (CFM) is a leading supplier of PHWR fuel assemblies for CANDU reactors. We are also the largest Canadian-based supplier of “in-reactor” components to CANDU operators around the world.
CANADA
Cameco Fuel Manufacturing Inc.
Location Port Hope and Cobourg, Ontario Ownership 100% owned by Cameco Licensed Capacity 1.2 million kgU as U02 as finished bundles Employment About 260 people M AY 2013
CFM has gained more than five decades of experience with CANDU fuel technology and the forming, welding, brazing and machining of zirconium alloys and other specialized metals for Canada’s nuclear industry.
Fuel Manufacturing CFM’s plant at Port Hope, Ontario is licensed to produce 1,200 tonnes of uranium as finished fuel annually for CANDU heavy water reactors. In addition to standard
CANDU fuel designs, CFM has the capability to produce other types of nuclear fuel using natural, depleted or enriched uranium.
Production Process for Reactor Fuel
1 Uranium dioxide (UO2)
powder is delivered by truck in 45-gallon drums. The material is put into processing containers and then blended to condition the powder.
2 UO2 powder is
compressed in a die to produce cylindrical pellets.
3 Pellets pass through a
high-temperature electric sintering furnace with a hydrogen atmosphere to convert them to a hard, high-density ceramic.
4 Pellets are ground
under liquid coolant to precise dimensions.
Reactor Components CFM’s machining and metal fabrication facilities at Cobourg, Ontario produce components for fuel assemblies and specialized metal components for nuclear plants. We have
30 years experience producing high-quality specialty reactor components for use in CANDU reactors worldwide.
Components Calandria tubes Garter springs
Other reactivity mechanisms
Guide tubes
Specialized metals
Guide tube assemblies
Shut-off unit adjuster assemblies
Flux detector assemblies Liquid zone control assemblies
5 Pellets are loaded
into fuel tubes which are sealed by welded end caps.
6 Fuel tubes are assembled into bundles and zircaloy
end plates are attached by resistance welding. The zircaloy tubes used in fuel bundles and component parts are manufactured at the Cobourg facility. Component parts are manufactured through standard metal-working processes.
Customer tube sizes Complete NDT services
7 After inspection and
cleaning, the fuel assemblies are packaged for shipment.
Technology Transfer & Consulting Services Cameco has in-house experience building nuclear fuel manufacturing plants in Canada and abroad. As well, CFM has successfully transferred technology to several nuclear operators, primarily in those countries using CANDU reactors from Canada. CFM has agreements
to provide consulting services to companies in Europe and Asia. Our engineering and technical teams can assist with nuclear fuel product and manufacturing process development on a contract basis.
Above: The CFM plant in Port Hope. Below: A Chinese facility built to provide fuel bundles for CANDU and other PHWR nuclear plants at Qinshan was partially modelled after the CFM facility in Port Hope. Quality Certifications ISO 9001:2008 ISO 14001 CSA CAN3 Z299.1 – 85 TSSA QA.24 TSSA QA.00615 TSSA QA.03906
Expertise in CANDU reactor fuel requirements has also resulted in consulting work abroad in support of CANDU reactor technology exported by CANDU Energy Inc. to other countries, such as the Cernavoda plant in Romania pictured above.
Cameco is a major supplier of uranium processing services required to produce fuel for the generation of clean electricity. Through our Canadian refining and conversion facilities and a toll-processing agreement with Springfields Fuels Ltd. in the United Kingdom, Cameco is a leading conversion supplier with approximately 25% of world capacity. Cameco is one of two fuel manufacturers serving Canada’s reactor fleet and the largest Canadian-based supplier of components for CANDU reactors. Cameco also provides consulting services related to nuclear fuel products and manufacturing process development. All of Cameco’s products and services are used exclusively for the generation of clean electricity by nuclear power plants.
13-166-025
Manager, Marketing, Zircaloy and Reactor Components Cameco Fuel Manufacturing Inc. 200 Dorset Street East Port Hope, ON L1A 3V4
Marketing Manager Cameco Fuel Manufacturing Inc. 200 Dorset Street East Port Hope, ON L1A 3V4
Phone: 905-885-4537 x3300
Phone: 289-251-2601
cameco.com
CANADA
Cameco Fuel Manufacturing Inc.
Location Port Hope and Cobourg, Ontario Ownership 100% owned by Cameco Licensed Capacity 1.2 million kgU as U02 as finished bundles Employment About 260 people M AY 2013
CFM has gained more than five decades of experience with CANDU fuel technology and the forming, welding, brazing and machining of zirconium alloys and other specialized metals for Canada’s nuclear industry.
Fuel Manufacturing CFM’s plant at Port Hope, Ontario is licensed to produce 1,200 tonnes of uranium as finished fuel annually for CANDU heavy water reactors. In addition to standard
CANDU fuel designs, CFM has the capability to produce other types of nuclear fuel using natural, depleted or enriched uranium.
Production Process for Reactor Fuel
1 Uranium dioxide (UO2)
powder is delivered by truck in 45-gallon drums. The material is put into processing containers and then blended to condition the powder.
2 UO2 powder is
compressed in a die to produce cylindrical pellets.
3 Pellets pass through a
high-temperature electric sintering furnace with a hydrogen atmosphere to convert them to a hard, high-density ceramic.
4 Pellets are ground
under liquid coolant to precise dimensions.
Reactor Components CFM’s machining and metal fabrication facilities at Cobourg, Ontario produce components for fuel assemblies and specialized metal components for nuclear plants. We have
30 years experience producing high-quality specialty reactor components for use in CANDU reactors worldwide.
Components Calandria tubes Garter springs
Other reactivity mechanisms
Guide tubes
Specialized metals
Guide tube assemblies
Shut-off unit adjuster assemblies
Flux detector assemblies Liquid zone control assemblies
5 Pellets are loaded
into fuel tubes which are sealed by welded end caps.
6 Fuel tubes are assembled into bundles and zircaloy
end plates are attached by resistance welding. The zircaloy tubes used in fuel bundles and component parts are manufactured at the Cobourg facility. Component parts are manufactured through standard metal-working processes.
Customer tube sizes Complete NDT services
7 After inspection and
cleaning, the fuel assemblies are packaged for shipment.
Technology Transfer & Consulting Services Cameco has in-house experience building nuclear fuel manufacturing plants in Canada and abroad. As well, CFM has successfully transferred technology to several nuclear operators, primarily in those countries using CANDU reactors from Canada. CFM has agreements
to provide consulting services to companies in Europe and Asia. Our engineering and technical teams can assist with nuclear fuel product and manufacturing process development on a contract basis.
Above: The CFM plant in Port Hope. Below: A Chinese facility built to provide fuel bundles for CANDU and other PHWR nuclear plants at Qinshan was partially modelled after the CFM facility in Port Hope. Quality Certifications ISO 9001:2008 ISO 14001 CSA CAN3 Z299.1 – 85 TSSA QA.24 TSSA QA.00615 TSSA QA.03906
Expertise in CANDU reactor fuel requirements has also resulted in consulting work abroad in support of CANDU reactor technology exported by CANDU Energy Inc. to other countries, such as the Cernavoda plant in Romania pictured above.
Cameco is a major supplier of uranium processing services required to produce fuel for the generation of clean electricity. Through our Canadian refining and conversion facilities and a toll-processing agreement with Springfields Fuels Ltd. in the United Kingdom, Cameco is a leading conversion supplier with approximately 25% of world capacity. Cameco is one of two fuel manufacturers serving Canada’s reactor fleet and the largest Canadian-based supplier of components for CANDU reactors. Cameco also provides consulting services related to nuclear fuel products and manufacturing process development. All of Cameco’s products and services are used exclusively for the generation of clean electricity by nuclear power plants.
13-166-025
Manager, Marketing, Zircaloy and Reactor Components Cameco Fuel Manufacturing Inc. 200 Dorset Street East Port Hope, ON L1A 3V4
Marketing Manager Cameco Fuel Manufacturing Inc. 200 Dorset Street East Port Hope, ON L1A 3V4
Phone: 905-885-4537 x3300
Phone: 289-251-2601
cameco.com
