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The Thorp Project - An Overview

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  • S.E. Beaty

    (Health Physics & Safety Manager, Wastes Encapsulation Plant, THORP Division, BNFL Sellafield)

Abstract

BNFL is an international company offering a nuclear fuel service. BNFL owns and operates facilities for the storage and reprocessing of irradiated fuel, and treatment of wastes arising, at the Sellafield site in West Cumbria. In 1974, BNFL announced its intention to undertake the Company's largest ever project, the provision of a new, integrated, reprocessing facility known as THORP (Thermal Oxide Reprocessing Plant). The purpose of THORP is to recover uranium and plutonium from spent oxide fuel that has been irradiated in nuclear reactors used for the generation of electricity. The plant has been designed to high standards to avoid jeopardising the safety of any person on or off site as a result of its operation. This paper provides an overview of the project outlining some of the major aspects, encompassing the history of the project, environmental impact, safeguards/accountancy, commercial information, the use of the products in mixed oxide fuel and the development of the THORP workforce. It concludes that the large investment made in plant, equipment and people, will ensure that the radiological impact of THORP's operations on the environment is insignificant, and that as the radioactive commissioning of THORP is proceeding successfully, that there is increasing confidence within, and external to, BNFL that THORP will be a commercial and environmental success for Britain.

Suggested Citation

  • S.E. Beaty, 1995. "The Thorp Project - An Overview," Energy & Environment, , vol. 6(4), pages 383-389, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:engenv:v:6:y:1995:i:4:p:383-389
    DOI: 10.1177/0958305X9500600405
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