Iran’s Gas Centrifuge Program: Taking Stock

Posted by Matt in February 11th, 2010 | no comment

Published in Iran, Nuclear, Appendix, Atomic Energy Agency, Enrichment Plant, First Principles, Fuel Enrichment, Gas Centrifuge, International Atomic Energy, International Atomic Energy Agency, International Atomic Energy Agency Iaea, Iran, Leu, natanz, Nuclear Power Reactor, Optimal Performance, Performance Implications, Performance Reasons, Public Information, Safeguards, Several Thousand, Stock Table, Taking Stock, Uranium

Table of Contents
1. Understanding Enrichment at Natanz
2. First Principles
3. More advanced centrifuges coming? A secret site?
4. Natanz and the P1 Centrifuge
5. Separative Capacity of Iran’s P1 Centrifuge
6. Building a Centrifuge Plant
7. LEU Production
8. Taking Stock, Analyzing FEP Performance
9. Reasons for Sub-Optimal Performance
10. Implications on the Fordow Enrichment Site
11. Findings and Conclusion
12. Figures and Tables
13. Appendix: [...]

Can Iran produce 20 percent-enriched uranium?

Posted by Matt in February 8th, 2010 | 1 comment

Published in Iran, Nuclear, Centrifuge Equipment, centrifuges, defiance, Enrichment Plant, Enrichment Plants, Fuel Enrichment, Fuel Rods, Grade Material, Heu, Inefficiencies, Intelligence Services, Iran Iran, Leu, Reactor, Small Quantities, Stockpile, Technical Prowess, U 235, Uranium, Weapon Grade

Yes. Though Iran may encounter some challenges, it is technically equipped to produce 19.75 percent enriched uranium at the Natanz Fuel Enrichment Plant (note, any uranium enriched to under 20 percent U-235 is classified by the IAEA as LEU; uranium enriched to 20 percent or greater is classified as high enriched uranium (HEU).
If Iran were [...]

I.A.E.A. Reports Iranian Nuclear Progress

Posted by Matt in June 5th, 2009 | no comment

Published in Iran, Nuclear, Atomic Energy Agency, Centrifuge, centrifuges, Containment, David Albright, Enriching Uranium, Enrichment Plant, Fep, Fuel Enrichment, Hexafluoride, International Atomic Energy, International Atomic Energy Agency, International Atomic Energy Agency Iaea, IR-2, IR-3, IR-4, Leu, Nuclear Fuel, Nuclear Weapons, Reactor, Security Council Resolutions, Shire, Surveillance Measures

A week before Iran’s presidential election, atomic inspectors reported Friday that the country has sped up its production of nuclear fuel and increased its number of installed centrifuges to 7,200 — more than enough, weapon experts said, to make fuel for up to two nuclear weapons a year, if the country decided to use its [...]

Iran’s Nuclear Program

Posted by Matt in July 18th, 2008 | no comment

Published in Iran, Nuclear, 1950s, Allegations, Ambitions, Bush Administration Officials, Dwight D Eisenhower, Dwight Eisenhower, Fuel Enrichment, International Concern, Islamic Revolution, Launch, Nuclear Energy Technology, Nuclear Program, Nuclear Programs, Nuclear Weapons Program, Peace Program, President Dwight D Eisenhower, Revelations, Steady Progress, Upheaval, Uranium

Iran’s leaders have worked to pursue nuclear energy technology since the 1950s, spurred by the launch of U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s Atoms for Peace program. It made steady progress, with Western help, through the early 1970s. But concern over Iranian intentions followed by the upheaval of the Islamic Revolution in 1979 effectively ended outside [...]

Iran installs advanced centrifuges (P-2/IR-2) in main atom plant

Posted by Matt in April 3rd, 2008 | no comment

Published in Iran, Nuclear, Atom Bombs, Bellows, Carbon Fiber, Centrifuge, centrifuges, Counterpart, Diplomats, Factsheet, Fuel Enrichment, Intention, Iran, Islamic Republic, Maraging Steel, natanz, Nuclear Program, Reuters, Steel Bellows, Steel Rotor, Un Security Council, Uranium Enrichment Plant, Weapons Facility

Diplomats say Islamic Republic installing new centrifuges in Natanz weapons facility in move said to show it has no intention of suspending nuclear program despite demands by UN Security Council
Iran has begun installing advanced centrifuges in its main uranium enrichment plant, accelerating activity that could give it the means to make atom bombs in future [...]