COMPARISON OF U$sup 235$ ENRICHED AND PLUTONIUM ENRICHED UO$sub 2$ FROM THE STANDPOINT OF NUCLEAR SAFETY
A study was made to estimate the plutonium enrichments of depleted and natural UO/sub 2/ that would be equivalent in nuclear reactivity to 1.5% U/sup 235/ enriched UO/sub 2/ for the case of 2.2 in. diameter rods in light water. To make these estimates, curves were derived which show the enrichment of UO/sub 2/, PuO/sub 2/ -- (UO/sub 2)/sub .2/ and PuO/sub 2/)/sub .72/ -7/ that have equal maximum bucklings in the UO/ enrichment range of 1.3 to 2.1% U/sup 235/. The enrichments which have bucklings equal to 1.5% U/sup 235/ enriched UO/sub 2/are 0.79 wt% Pu/sup 239/ enriched PuO/sub 2/(UO/sub 2/)/sub .2/ and 0.47 wt% Pu/sup 239/ enriched PuO/sub 2/-(UO/sub 2/) /sub .72/. Comparing the buckling versus water-to-fuel volume ratio curves for these three fuels, the bucklings differed by less than 5% over the range of volume ratios significant in criticality calculations. Consequently, it was concluded that the nuclear safety criteria for these three fuel enrichments are equivalent. The calculated minimum critical mass for the 1.5% U/sup 235/ enrichment level (for 2.2 in. dia. fuel rods in light water) was 930 plus or minus 300 kg. (auth)
- Research Organization:
- General Electric Co. Hanford Atomic Products Operation, Richland
- DOE Contract Number:
- AT(45-1)-1350
- NSA Number:
- NSA-16-015524
- OSTI ID:
- 4783185
- Report Number(s):
- HW-72039
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: Orig. Receipt Date: 31-DEC-62
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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