Evolutionary mixed-oxide fuel performance in pressurized water reactors

Journal Article · Tue Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1996 · Transactions of the American Nuclear Society

OSTI ID:426341

Eaton, S L; Beard, C A; Buksa, J J ^[1]

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1. Los Alamos National Laboratory, NM (United States)

Investigations of an advanced fuel form are currently under way at Los Alamos National Laboratory. This new fuel form, referred to as evolutionary mixed oxide (EMOX), is a slight perturbation on standard mixed-oxide (MOX) fuel, and analyses show that it can be an effective plutonium management tool in existing light water reactors. The addition of a small fraction of calcia-stabilized zirconia to the uranium-plutonium oxide matrix allows for greater plutonium conversion while also providing a licensing path forward toward eventual implementation of higher plutonium destruction fuels. These fuels, referred to as nonfertile (NF) fuels, achieve their high destruction rates through the absence of uranium, which breeds plutonium, in the fuel composition. Extensive calculations have been performed to assess the feasibility of incorporating the EMOX fuel form into existing pressurized water reactor (PWR) systems, and the results are presented in this paper. Specifically, calculations have been made to determine the plutonium consumption achievable by the EMOX concept, and comparisons have been made of this performance with that of typical MOX and NF fuels.

• OSTI ID: 426341
• Report Number(s): CONF-961103--
• Journal Information: Transactions of the American Nuclear Society, Journal Name: Transactions of the American Nuclear Society Vol. 75; ISSN 0003-018X; ISSN TANSAO
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
FEASIBILITY STUDIES
MIXED OXIDE FUELS
PLUTONIUM RECYCLE
PWR TYPE REACTORS