Uniform analysis of recycling self generated actinides in a PWR, LMR, and MHTGR

The recycling of all self generated actinides in a pressurized water reactor (PWR), liquid metal cooled reactor (LMR) and modular high temperature gas-cooled reactor (MHTGR) has been consistently analyzed. Since the actual quantities of the non-plutonium actinides is small, homogeneous recycling with the fuel is assumed. Thus a cell representation of each core is sufficient. A burnup routine was written to link with Idaho National Engineering Laboratory's (INEL's) cross section code, COMBINE, so accurate cross sections could be attained throughout the multiply loadings. The burnup routine also searched for the appropriate feed enrichment so that the target fuel burnup could be achieved. The analysis was performed for eleven reloads of the fuel. Tables of actinide masses are presented for each reactor type. All three reactors types were effective in burning the plutonium. The non uranium/plutonium actinides never reached equilibrium in the 11 fuel reloads (33 years for the PWR). There was, however, a reduction of the actinides in each case when compared to non-recycling