[en] Besides operating the world's oldest series of nuclear reactors, Magnox, Britain is also exceptional in being the only country planning to postpone decommissioning for over 100 years. The issues that this raises for future generations, and ways of assuring that decommissioning can be adequately funded in the future, were the subject of a recent report by the Science Policy Research Unit (SPRU). (UK nuclear decommissioning policy: time for decision, by Gordon MacKerron, John Surrey and Steve Thomas, SPRU, April 1994)

No abstract available

[en] A corrosion problem in a Magnox reactor, first discovered in 1983, has received the distinction of a dedicated investigation by a British parliament select committee, prompted by newspaper reports. The MPs discovered that the problem had been exaggerated out of all proportion by antagonists and critics of the Central Electricity Generating Board and the nuclear industry, assisted by a London newspaper, The Times

[en] The background to the safety assessment of the steel reactor pressure vessels for Magnox power stations is reviewed. The evolved philosophy adopted for the 1991 safety cases prepared for the continued operation of four Magnox power stations operated by Nuclear Electric plc is described together with different aspects of the multielement integrity argument. The main revisions to the mechanical property data are addressed together with the assessment methodology adopted and their implications for the overall integrity argument formulated for the continued safe operation of these reactor pressure vessels are discussed. (author)

[en] The present report comprises a technical description of the MAGNOX type of reactor as it has been build in Great Britain. The Magnox reactor is gas cooled (CO₂) with graphite moderators. The fuels is natural uranium in metallic form, canned with a magnesium alloy called 'Magnox'. The Calder Hall Magnox plant on the Lothian coastline of Scotland, 60 km east of Edinburgh, has been chosen as the reference plant and is described in some detail. Data on the other stations are given in tables with a summary of design data. Special design features are also shortly described. Where specific data for Calder Hall Magnox has not been available, corresponding data from other Magnox plants has been used. The information presented is based on the open literature. The report is written as a part of the NKS/RAK-2 sub-project 3: 'Reactors in Nordic Surroundings', which comprises a description of nuclear power plants neighbouring the Nordic countries. (au)

[en] One of the most remarkable achievements in physical metallurgy occurred right at the start of the Civil Nuclear Reactor Programme in the United Kingdom when Cottrell first predicted, then demonstrated, 'irradiation' or 'Cottrell' creep of uranium. This had immediate practical consequences because a Magnox reactor with uranium fuel was already operating at Calder Hall and it was found that the fuel elements were indeed deforming to an unacceptable extent owing to Cottrell creep. This deformation is a type of Newtonian flow, and other examples were found to occur in the fuel elements. In particular, the magnesium can components deformed by Nabarro-Herring creep; this was the first identification of this fundamental deformation mode occurring in an engineering component. Newtonian flow is also induced if a small load is applied to uranium while it is thermally cycled through its α-β phase change. This is a consequence of the volume changes that take place during the allotropic transformation. Volume changes also occur during nuclear and chemical changes (particularly corrosion reactions in this context) leading to the generation of stress and these processes are now known to be of great importance in the development and performance of the fuel element and other reactor components. (author)

[en] This article looks at the design and construction of British Nuclear Fuel Limited's (BNFL) Magnox waste storage complex by Costain Engineering Limited. Magnox swarf from fuel decanning is stored underwater in specially designed silos. Gas processing capabilities from Costain Engineering Limited and the experience of BNFL combined in this project to provide the necessary problem-solving skills necessary for this waste storage upgrading and extension project. A retrofitted inerting facility was fitted to an existing building and a new storage extension was fitted, both without interrupting reprocessing operations at Sellafield. (UK)

[en] The best way to ensure that the UK's nuclear power stations present no unacceptable safety risks is to shut them down and build replacements to modern standards, says the industry's public watchdog. Yet rather than shut down stations Nuclear Electric, which runs most of the country's reactors, is pressing the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate (NII) for licence to run the stations for many more years. Nuclear Electric has just reported a 3 TWh increase in the output of electricity from its stations in the year to April as a result of improvements in their performance. The stations include first-generation Magnox and advanced gas-cooled reactor stations. Nuclear Electric claims that the costs of electricity from even the oldest Magnoxes, following the writing-off of their capital costs, is low enough to justify their continued operation. The Magnoxes are about 30 years old. Nuclear Electric thinks they are good in engineering terms for up to 40 years. (author)

[en] A description of the facilities developed by the Central Electricity Generating Board to conduct tests on the impact resistance of flasks both in model form and at full size. Particular reference is made to tests on a full scale Magnox Fuel Flask. (author)

[en] Ultrasonic probe manipulators for the inspection of Magnox reactor standpipes are described. Data recording and display are discussed and information about future developments is given