The FRM II fuel element

The fuel element of the FRM II is a hollow cylinder approx. 1.3 metres long, 24 cm in diameter and with a total weight of 53 kg. It contains around 8 kg of uranium, which is enriched with up to 93 % of the fissile uranium ²³⁵U. The fuel used is U₃Si₂, which is dispersed in aluminium.

At the end of a cycle (= 60 days), the spent fuel element is discharged under water (natural shielding against radiation) and transferred to the decay pool of the FRM II, where it is stored for at least 6.5 years.

There are currently (as of March 2022) 47 spent fuel assemblies in the decay pool, which is designed with a capacity of 50 places.

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