Comparison and assessment of technical options to fuel Japanese power plants with plutonium from US and Russian retired warheads

Conference · Sun Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1995

OSTI ID:182986

Suzuki, Tatsujiro ^[1]; Suzuki, Atsuyuki ^[2]

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1. Massachusetts Inst. of Tech., Cambridge, MA (United States). Center for International Studies
2. Univ. of Tokyo (Japan). Dept. of Quantum Engineering and Systems Science

This paper compares and assesses various technical options that can be considered in Japan to use plutonium from retired nuclear warheads as fuel. There are several options that have been suggested by research organizations such as Power Reactor and Nuclear Fuel Development Corporation and Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute. The paper also discusses institutional and organizational issues associated with possible Japanese use of plutonium from retired warheads. Based on the assessments, the paper concludes: (1) Japan has sufficient technical experiences and facilities; (2) existing FBRs and ATRs are preferred option to burn plutonium from retired warheads than recycling to commercial LWRs; (3) the PROFIT (Plutonium ROck-like Fuel InTegration) proposal made by JAERI is worth considering as a long term option; (4) mixing or swapping with civilian plutonium can be a possible option for Japan since it could minimize changes in Japanese civilian programs; (5) it would be desirable to transfer plutonium from Russia through the third party with which Japan has already a bi-lateral agreement.

• OSTI ID: 182986
• Report Number(s): CONF-950917--; ISBN 0-7918-1219-7
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

05 NUCLEAR FUELS
21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
45 MILITARY TECHNOLOGY, WEAPONRY, AND NATIONAL DEFENSE
ALUMINIUM OXIDES
CERAMICS
GOVERNMENT POLICIES
JAPAN
JATR REACTOR
JOYO REACTOR
MAGNESIUM OXIDES
MIXED OXIDE FUEL FABRICATION PLANTS
MONJU REACTOR
NUCLEAR MATERIALS MANAGEMENT
NUCLEAR WEAPONS DISMANTLEMENT
PLUTONIUM
PLUTONIUM OXIDES
PLUTONIUM RECYCLE
RUSSIAN FEDERATION
THORIUM OXIDES
USA
WATER COOLED REACTORS