Coprocessing of thermal reactor fuels

Technical Report · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1985

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5055878· OSTI ID:5055878

Ballard, Jr, W W

The Nuclear Power Development Division (NPD) under the Assistant Secretary for Energy Technology in the Department of Energy (DOE) is responsible for examining alternative nuclear reactor fuel recycle systems which have potential for reducing the risk of proliferation of nuclear weapons. NPD is administering a base technology program of research and development and design studies which will provide a sound technical foundation for evaluating the nonproliferation potential and commercial feasibility of these alternatives. The Savannah River Laboratory (SRL) has been assigned as the technical lead for those activities associated with the processing of thermal reactor fuel. In order to systematically identify technical requirements and design solutions, SRL periodically updates a Design Integration Study (DIS). The reference process being incorporated into the current DIS is coprocessing uranium and plutonium in a manner whereby pure plutonium is never available in a separate stream. As with other processes, coprocessing doesn't offer a technical fix for preventing proliferators. A flowsheet for this reference process is described with particular emphasis on technical issues and proliferation resistance advantages of coprocessing over conventional Purex processing.

• Research Organization: Department of Energy, Washington, DC (USA). Div. of Nuclear Power Development
• OSTI ID: 5055878
• Report Number(s): DOE/NBM-5017991; DOE-010; ON: DE85017991
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

050800* -- Nuclear Fuels-- Spent Fuels Reprocessing
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
210400 -- Power Reactors
Nonbreeding
Otherwise Moderated or Unmoderated
ACTINIDES
CIVEX PROCESS
DIAGRAMS
ELEMENTS
ENERGY SOURCES
FLOWSHEETS
FUELS
MATERIALS
METALS
NUCLEAR FUELS
PLUTONIUM
REACTOR MATERIALS
REACTORS
REPROCESSING
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SPENT FUELS
THERMAL REACTORS
TRANSURANIUM ELEMENTS
URANIUM