Plutonium Consumption Program, CANDU Reactor Project final report

Technical Report · Sun Jul 31 04:00:00 EDT 1994

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/10170324· OSTI ID:10170324

DOE is investigating methods for long term dispositioning of weapons grade plutonium. One such method would be to utilize the plutonium in Mixed OXide (MOX) fuel assemblies in existing CANDU reactors. CANDU (Canadian Deuterium Uranium) reactors are designed, licensed, built, and supported by Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL), and currently use natural uranium oxide as fuel. The MOX spent fuel assemblies removed from the reactor would be similar to the spent fuel currently produced using natural uranium fuel, thus rendering the plutonium as unattractive as that in the stockpiles of commercial spent fuel. This report presents the results of a study sponsored by the DOE for dispositioning the plutonium using CANDU technology. Ontario Hydro`s Bruce A was used as reference. The fuel design study defined the optimum parameters to disposition 50 tons of Pu in 25 years (or 100 tons). Two alternate fuel designs were studied. Safeguards, security, environment, safety, health, economics, etc. were considered. Options for complete destruction of the Pu were also studied briefly; CANDU has a superior ability for this. Alternative deployment options were explored and the potential impact on Pu dispositioning in the former Soviet Union was studied. An integrated system can be ready to begin Pu consumption in 4 years, with no changes required to the reactors other than for safe, secure storage of new fuel.

• Research Organization: AECL Technologies, Inc., Rockville, MD (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC03-94SF20218
• OSTI ID: 10170324
• Report Number(s): DOE/SF/20218--T1; ON: DE94015772; BR: AF1210000
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

055001
21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
210400
210802
350200
45 MILITARY TECHNOLOGY, WEAPONRY, AND NATIONAL DEFENSE
450200
98 NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT, SAFEGUARDS, AND PHYSICAL PROTECTION
CANDU TYPE REACTORS
DECOMMISSIONING
FEASIBILITY STUDIES
FUEL CYCLE
MIXED OXIDE FUELS
NUCLEAR EXPLOSIONS AND EXPLOSIVES
NUCLEAR WEAPONS
PLUTONIUM
POWER REACTORS
NONBREEDING
OTHERWISE MODERATED OR UNMODERATED
PROGRESS REPORT
PROLIFERATION
TECHNICAL ASPECTS
USES