[en] The amount of plutonium produced is estimated. A survey of fuel cycles employed to date and of the use of plutonium is set up. The existing safety analyses are registered and characterized. Possible fuel cycle alternatives are registered, the state-of-the-art in the various fuel cycle concepts are examined, intervention of third parties and subnational deviation are discussed. (DG)

[en] This paper describes a thorium-fueled PFB blanket concept for a Commercial Tokamak Hybrid Reactor. A preliminary mechanical concept is presented and the results of neutronics, thermal-hydraulics and economics analyses are discussed. Futher work needed to design and advance the concept is recommended

[en] In this 1981 report the work carried out by the European Institute for Transuranium elements is reviewed. Main topics are: operation limits of plutonium fuels: swelling of advanced fuels, oxide fuel transients, equation of state of nuclear materials; actinide cycle safety: formation of actinides (FACT), safe handling of plutonium fuel (SHAPE), aspects of the head-end processing of carbide fuel (RECARB); actinide research: crystal chemistry, solid state studies, applied actinide research

[en] Parametric design and systems analysis for inertial confinement fusion-fission hybrids are presented. These results were generated as part of the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) sponsored Feasibility Assessment of Fusion-Fission Hybrids, using an Inertial Confinement Fusion (ICF) hybrid power plant design code developed in conjunction with the feasibility assessment. The SYMECON systems analysis code, developed by Westinghouse, was used to generate economic results for symbiotic electricity generation systems consisting of the hybrid and its client Light Water Reactors (LWRs). These results explore the entire fusion parameter space for uranium fast fission blanket hybrids, thorium fast fission blanket hybrids, and thorium suppressed fission blanket types are discussed, and system sensitivities to design uncertainties are explored

[en] The stimulating effects of the existence of Eurochemic on a number of activities at SCK/CEN Mol, such as plutonium fuel, geological disposal and radioactive waste management are reviewed. (AF)

[en] The history of plutonium safeguards is one of political error and misunderstandings, as well as a lack of technical knowledge. Although there was widespread support for preventing the proliferation of nuclear explosives, with over 100 nations signing the Nonproliferation Treaty of 1969, India's 1974 nuclear test brought renewed political activity to prevent another such occurrence. Opposition has been directed only at how to pursue this goal, but the status of four major experiments aimed at minimizing weapons proliferation is one of failure, intensified by a weakening of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). If the link between plutonium power and weapons production can be broken through on-site reprocessing, the situation could improve. One course would be for the nuclear power industry to adopt its own system for safe guarding plutonium

[en] The costs for annual fuel reloads of different back end options were compared. The changes in the front end costs, if influenced, were considered

[en] On the basis of the paper published earlier the quality factors for a wide range of linear energy transfer (LET) from γ to α radiations are determined. In case of normalizatiOn for fast neutrons for Q=10, for γ radiation the quality factor is calculated to be Q=1. The formula accounts for the reduction with a growing absorbed dose. For α particles the calculation value Q=100, that reconmmended by the auther is Q=50. So great an increase in Q for the α particles considerably enhances the ecologic advantage of the power engineering development following the nuclear fuel cycle scheme with combination of fast and thermal reactors as distinct from using only thermal reactors or coal fuel cycle. Thus, the optimum ecology can be ensured in perspective only for plutonium power engineering

[en] Some approximate relations are obtained for Th-blanket fuel assemblies (slabs and cylinders) in a seed-blanket nuclear reactor, and their consequences considered. (author)

[en] The aims of a long term programme for the development of nuclear energy, published by te Atomic Energy Commission in June 1982, are discussed. These include: the use of plutonium in thermal reactors; construction of a 600 MWe demonstration ATR; demonstration of plutonium recycle in LWRs; construction of the 285 MWe prototype fast reactor, Monju; construction of a 1200 t/y reprocessing plant; design of a demonstration centrifuge enrichment plant; and operation of a pilot plant for testing solidification and storage techniques for high level waste. (U.K.)