英国后处理厂液体排放的影响.docxVIP

5.2. OPERATIONS AT SELLAFIELDReprocessing has been carried out at Sellafield (originally Windscale) since the early 1950s, when thepurpose was to separate plutonium for nuclear weapons. Table 1 sets out annual tonnage throughputssince 1970. Early data concerning reprocessing by the (now shut) B204 reprocessing plant is unavailable.Since 1965, the B205 fuel reprocessing plant at Sellafield has been operating principally for commercialpurposes. The B205 plant reprocesses Magnox fuel, i.e. metallic uranium fuel clad in magnesium alloy fromMagnox gas-cooled reactors. These reactors are in the process of being phased out by about 2010.Approximately 26,000 tonnes of spent fuel have been reprocessed by the B205 line at Sellafield up to yearending 2000. Estimates vary as to how long reprocessing will continue at B205 [see discussion in RWMAC,2000] but an informed estimate would be about 2012 based on current annual throughput rates.The THORP (THermal Oxide Reprocessing Plant) plant started operations in 1994 to reprocess uraniumoxide fuel in stainless steel cladding from Advanced Gas-cooled Reactors (AGR) and Light WaterReactors (LWR). So far about 3,200 tonnes of oxide fuel have been reprocessed at THORP.No new reprocessing contracts (domestic or overseas) are likely at THORP. Estimates vary as to how longreprocessing could continue at THORP [RWMAC, 2000] under current contracts but an informed estimatewould be also about 2012 based on its lifetime throughput rate.5.3.2. Liquid DischargesWith liquid discharges to sea, the picture is more complex. In the late 1970s, very high levels of fissionproducts and actinides (particularly plutonium isotopes) were contained in pond liquors discharged to sea.These discharges occurred as a consequence of Magnox fuel assemblies being held in ponds for long periodsawaiting reprocessing. This resulted in the disintegration of many assemblies and in heavy radioactivecontamination of pond liquids. These were subsequently discharged untreated