Published June 1997 | Version v1
Report Restricted

A practical strategy for reducing the future security risk of United States spent nuclear fuel

Creators

  • 1. Los Alamos National Lab., NM (United States). Nuclear Systems Design and Analysis Group

Description

Depletion calculations show that advanced oxide (AOX) fuels can be used in existing light water reactors (LWRs) to achieve and maintain virtually any desired level of US (US) reactor-grade plutonium (R-Pu) inventory. AOX fuels are composed of a neutronically inert matrix loaded with R-Pu and erbium. A 1/2 core load of 100% nonfertile, 7w% R-Pu AOX and 3.9 w% UO2 has a net total plutonium (TOTPu) destruction rate of 310 kg/yr. The 20% residual TOTPu in discharged AOX contains > 55% 242Pu making it unattractive for nuclear explosive use. A three-phase fuel-cycle development program sequentially loading 60 LWRs with 100% mixed oxide, 50% AOX with a nonfertile component displacing only some of the 238U, and 50% AOX, which is 100% nonfertile, could reduce the US plutonium inventory to near zero by 2050

Availability note (English)

Available from INIS in electronic form and/or on microfiche ; Also available from OSTI as DE97009121; NTIS; US Govt. Printing Office Dep.

Files

Restricted

The record is publicly accessible, but files are restricted to users with access.

Additional details

Publishing Information

Imprint Pagination
7 p.
Report number
LA-UR--97-2463

Conference

Title
International conference on future nuclear systems.
Dates
5-10 Oct 1997.
Place
Yokohama (Japan).

INIS

Country of Publication
United States
Country of Input or Organization
United States
INIS RN
29022176
Subject category
S11: NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS; S98: NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT, SAFEGUARDS AND PHYSICAL PROTECTION;
Resource subtype / Literary indicator
Conference
Descriptors DEI
BURNUP; MIXED OXIDE FUELS; NUCLEAR MATERIALS MANAGEMENT; PLUTONIUM RECYCLE; PROLIFERATION; SECURITY; SPENT FUELS; WATER COOLED REACTORS
Descriptors DEC
ENERGY SOURCES; FUEL CYCLE; FUELS; MANAGEMENT; MATERIALS; NUCLEAR FUELS; REACTOR MATERIALS; REACTORS; SOLID FUELS

Optional Information

Contract/Grant/Project number
Contract W-7405-ENG-36
Funding organization
USDOE Assistant Secretary for Human Resources and Administration, Washington, DC (United States).
Secondary number(s)
CONF-971004--5.