Publication Laka-library:
The Uranium Enrichment Plant Almelo (1992)
| Author | Urenco Nederland BV |
| Date | 1992* |
| Classification | 1.01.8.30/30 (URENCO/UCN ALMELO - GENERAL) |
| Front | 
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From the publication:
What is Uranium Enrichment? Uranium is the raw material for nuclear power and thus an important source of energy today. Before it can be used for electricity generation in a nuclear power plant, however, several processing steps are necessary: The ore has to be mined and the uranium is extracted and purified at the mine site; it is next chemically converted into uranium hexafluoride at conversion plants and this is followed by the enrichment process, which takes place in uranium enrichment facilities; finally the enriched uranium is manufactured into fuel elements at fuel fabrication plants. Uranium in its natural state contains only 0.7% of the isotope uranium-235 (U-235), which by fission in a nuclear reactor releases the thermal energy necessary for electricity generation. The balance of the uranium comprises the isotope U-238, which is not fissionable in a thermal reactor. For the use in nuclear power plants with light water reactors, 0.7% U-235 is insufficient. The concentration of the U-235 isotope in the fuel has to be increased, usually into the range 3 - 5 %. The process for doing this is known as uranium enrichment.*) Estimated date
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