Weapons-grade plutonium dispositioning. Volume 3: A new reactor concept without uranium or thorium for burning weapons-grade plutonium

Technical Report · Tue Jun 01 00:00:00 EDT 1993

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/10167891· OSTI ID:10167891

Ryskamp, J M; Schnitzler, B G; Fletcher, C D ^[1]

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1. and others

The National Academy of Sciences (NAS) requested that the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory (INEL) examine concepts that focus only on the destruction of 50,000 kg of weapons-grade plutonium. A concept has been developed by the INEL for a low-temperature, low-pressure, low-power density, low-coolant-flow-rate light water reactor that destroys plutonium quickly without using uranium or thorium. This concept is very safe and could be designed, constructed, and operated in a reasonable time frame. This concept does not produce electricity. Not considering other missions frees the design from the paradigms and constraints used by proponents of other dispositioning concepts. The plutonium destruction design goal is most easily achievable with a large, moderate power reactor that operates at a significantly lower thermal power density than is appropriate for reactors with multiple design goals. This volume presents the assumptions and requirements, a reactor concept overview, and a list of recommendations. The appendices contain detailed discussions on plutonium dispositioning, self-protection, fuel types, neutronics, thermal hydraulics, off-site radiation releases, and economics.

• Research Organization: USDOE Idaho Field Office, Idaho Falls, ID (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE, Washington, DC (United States); National Academy of Sciences, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC07-76ID01570
• OSTI ID: 10167891
• Report Number(s): DOE/ID-10422-Vol.3; ON: DE94015248; TRN: 94:014662
• Resource Relation: Other Information: PBD: Jun 1993
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

98 NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT, SAFEGUARDS, AND PHYSICAL PROTECTION
45 MILITARY TECHNOLOGY, WEAPONRY, AND NATIONAL DEFENSE
22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS
NUCLEAR WEAPONS
DECOMMISSIONING
PLUTONIUM
TRANSMUTATION
MATERIALS PROCESSING REACTORS
DESIGN
WATER COOLED REACTORS
TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT
REACTOR KINETICS
REACTOR OPERATION
FEASIBILITY STUDIES
055001
450200
220600
350200
TECHNICAL ASPECTS
NUCLEAR EXPLOSIONS AND EXPLOSIVES
RESEARCH
TEST
TRAINING
PRODUCTION
IRRADIATION
MATERIALS TESTING REACTORS
PROLIFERATION