Non-proliferation features of SVBR-100 fuel cycle based on reprocessed uranium - 5421

SVBR-100 is a lead-bismuth eutectic alloy cooled reactor with uranium fuel having an average enrichment of 16.5 %. Needless to say that proliferation resistance is a necessary prerequisite to its expansion in emerging nuclear countries. This paper deals with the analysis of the isotope composition in the SVBR-100 spent fuel with the purpose to enhance proliferation resistance for the SVBR-100 fuel cycle. It is shown that the use of reprocessed uranium with an increased content of ²³⁶U in the fast reactor fuel cycle makes a minor effect on the fuel reactivity and requires little compensation efforts but reduces plutonium generation and enhances its proliferation resistance through increasing the amount of even plutonium isotopes. The analysis performed in the present paper reveals that the RBMK-1000 spent fuel seems to be a preferable source to set up a proliferation resistant fuel cycle for SVBR-100