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Transmutation of waste actinides in thermal reactors: survey calculations of candidate irradiation schemes

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6418356· OSTI ID:6418356

Actinide recycle and transmutation calculations were made for twelve specific thermal reactor environments. The calculations included H/sub 2/O-moderated reactor lattices with enriched U, recycled Pu, and /sup 233/'/sup 235/U-Th. In addition two D/sub 2/O reactor cases were calculated. When all actinides were recycled into /sup 235/U-enriched fuel, about 10 percent of the transuranic actinides were fissioned per 3-year fuel cycle. About 9 percent of the actinides were fissioned per 3-year fuel cycle when waste actinides (no U or Pu) were irradiated in separate target rods in a U-fuel assembly. When actinides were recycled in separate target assemblies, the fission rate was strongly dependent on the specific loading of the target. Fission rates of 5 to 10 percent per 3-year fuel cycle were observed.

Research Organization:
Du Pont de Nemours (E.I.) and Co., Aiken, SC (USA). Savannah River Lab.
OSTI ID:
6418356
Report Number(s):
DP-1496
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English