Preliminary evaluation of alternative fuel cycle options utilizing fast breeders

Technical Report · Sun Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1978

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6560300· OSTI ID:6560300

Burns, T J; White, J R

Various ''alternative'' fuel cycles have been proposed to alleviate concerns about reactor fuel being diverted for the manufacture of nuclear weapons. This report addresses the impact of such fuel cycles on the performance of the classical (homogeneous) oxide-fueled Liquid Metal Fast Breeder Reactor. The primary fuel cycle analyzed is the /sup 233/U//sup 238/U//sup 232/Th fuel cycle in which the fissile component /sup 233/U is ''denatured'' with /sup 238/U in order to restrict the use of reactor fuel as a source of weapons-usable material. The denatured reactor performance as a function of the fissile enrichment (% /sup 233/U in U) is evaluated. The associated energy center concept in which dispersed denatured reactors are coupled to /sup 233/U production reactors operating in such secure energy centers is described. The symbiotic system of dispersed/energy center reactors is analyzed both from the standpoint of energy growth supported and dispersed/centralized power production. Lastly, the effects of proposed changes in the nuclear data on both the reactor performance and symbiotic system characteristics are addressed.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-26
• OSTI ID: 6560300
• Report Number(s): ORNL-5389
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
210500* -- Power Reactors
Breeding
BREEDER REACTORS
DENATURED FUEL
ENERGY SOURCES
EPITHERMAL REACTORS
FAST REACTORS
FBR TYPE REACTORS
FUEL CYCLE
FUELS
KINETICS
LIQUID METAL COOLED REACTORS
LMFBR TYPE REACTORS
NUCLEAR FUELS
PERFORMANCE
REACTOR KINETICS
REACTOR LATTICE PARAMETERS
REACTOR MATERIALS
REACTORS