Richland Five-year 02 R&D Program
This program is directed to the production of higher weight plutonium isotopes and transplutonium isotopes from the irradiation of transuranic elements, particularly plutonium. Since production of Pu-238 from the irradiation of Np-237 and Am-241 is the subject of Mission 4, Pu-238 Program, it is excluded from this Mission. Specific products which are of prime interest are Cm-244 and plutonium containing a high concentration of either the Pu-240 isotope or the Pu-242 isotope. Because of the potential interest in Cm-244 as a heat source in the 1970`s, the main emphasis has been to provide the capability for producing this isotope. In support of this program, irradiations have been performed to obtain isotopic buildup rates, and a production and economic calculational model has been prepared for determining production methods and costs of producing Cm-244 in the Richland complex. The Richland production reactors have particular advantages in producing higher weight plutonium isotopes from the irradiation of plutonium because of a desirable neutron flux spectrum and a high heat removal capability. Specifically, the high temperature thermal neutron flux maximizes the capture-to-fission ratio of the Pu-239 and Pu-241 isotopes; the high heat removal capability provides for the large decrease in heat generation in the plutonium elements with minimum effect on reactor power levels and efficiency.
- Research Organization:
- Douglas United Nuclear, Inc., Richland, WA (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC06-76RL01830
- OSTI ID:
- 26553
- Report Number(s):
- RL--4-3; ON: DE95006541
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Richland five-year 02 R&D program, plutonium-238
Richland Five-Year 02 R&D Program - Pu-238 program
Sorption and migration of transplutonium elements in natural systems
Technical Report
·
Thu Jun 01 00:00:00 EDT 1967
·
OSTI ID:26562
Richland Five-Year 02 R&D Program - Pu-238 program
Technical Report
·
Sun Jun 30 00:00:00 EDT 1968
·
OSTI ID:10119791
Sorption and migration of transplutonium elements in natural systems
Conference
·
Mon Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 1986
· Sov. Radiochem. (Engl. Transl.); (United States)
·
OSTI ID:6967649