Long-Term Criticality Concerns Associated with Disposition of Weapons Plutonium
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
This paper presents a very brief description of criticality concerns resulting from dismantlement of nuclear weapons. Two plutonium disposal options, and associated criticality considerations, are described: (1) irradiating it into reactor-grade spent fuel, and (2) immobilization and burial, either in a geologic repository or in deep, sealed boreholes. Mixed oxide spent fuel could contain 3 to 4 wt% of reactor-grade plutonium. For the immobilization and the deep borehole options to be economically viable, a plutonium content of 3 to 7 wt% would be required. A study is proposed to evaluate the long-term criticality safety concerns for disposition of fissionable material in a geologic setting.
- Research Organization:
- Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States); Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), Nuclear Criticality Safety Program (NCSP)
- OSTI ID:
- 543253
- Report Number(s):
- LA--13277-C; CONF-9405144--; ON: DE97007297
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
45 MILITARY TECHNOLOGY, WEAPONRY, AND NATIONAL DEFENSE
CRITICALITY
Criticality Concerns
Criticality Considerations
HIGH-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTES
NUCLEAR WEAPONS DISMANTLEMENT
Nuclear Criticality Safety Program (NCSP)
Nuclear Weapons Dismantlement
RADIATION ACCIDENTS
RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL
Study Proposal
UNDERGROUND DISPOSAL