FUEL CYCLE ANALYSIS FOR SUCCESSIVE PLUTONIUM RECYCLE. I. RESULTS FOR FIVE REACTOR CONCEPTS

Technical Report · Thu Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1962

OSTI ID:4791745

Eschbach, E A; Deonigi, D E; Kanninen, M F; Granquist, D P; Busselman, G J; Lane, B B

The MELEAGER CHAlN code of the Hanford Laboratories was used to compute plutonium values in five simulated power reactors (APWR, BWR, OMR, D/sub 2/O, and GASCOOLED). For all parameters considered, the values ranged from about to per gram of fissile material for the first recycle step, based on the current uranium price schedule. The variations included batch and graded fuel cycles, AEC and private ownership of fuel, premium costs for plutonium fuel processing, zoned and unzoned reactors, and basic physics constants. As used here plutonium value is defined as the price of plutonium that yields the same fuel cost whether a given reactor is fueled with plutonium or with uranium. The constraints of the computer models are such that high plutonium values do not necessarily imply low power costs nor do low plutonium values imply high power costs. Furthermore, it is important that the term value'' should not be confused with the term price'', a marketing term, beyond the scope of this study. Discussion is included which indicates that plutonium values may be greater in reactors optimized for U/sup 235/-U/sup 238/ fueling if the spatial concentration of U/sup 238/ is reduced when plutonium fueling is used; this permits better utilization of the fertiltty of Pu 40. Furthermore, wfth no U/sup 238/ , or with only a little, some compositions of plutonium (Phoenix Fuels) exhibited cssentially constant reactivity for extraordinarily long lifetimes. (auth)

• Research Organization: General Electric Co. Hanford Atomic Products Operation, Richland, Wash.
• DOE Contract Number: AT(45-1)-1350
• NSA Number: NSA-16-011312
• OSTI ID: 4791745
• Report Number(s): HW-72217
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

REACTOR TECHNOLOGY