Strategies for denaturing the weapons-grade plutonium stockpile

Technical Report · Thu Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1992

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6896349· OSTI ID:6896349

Buckner, M R; Parks, P B

In the next few years, approximately 50 metric tons of weapons-grade plutonium and 150 metric tons of highly-enriched uranium (HEU) may be removed from nuclear weapons in the US and declared excess. These materials represent a significant energy resource that could substantially contribute to our national energy requirements. HEU can be used as fuel in naval reactors, or diluted with depleted uranium for use as fuel in commercial reactors. This paper proposes to use the weapons-grade plutonium as fuel in light water reactors. The first such reactor would demonstrate the dual objectives of producing electrical power and denaturing the plutonium to prevent use in nuclear weapons.

• Research Organization: Westinghouse Savannah River Co., Aiken, SC (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: DOE; USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC09-89SR18035
• OSTI ID: 6896349
• Report Number(s): WSRC-RP-92-1004; ON: DE93004299
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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