Physics of sup 238 Pu production in the Fast Flux Test Facility
Westinghouse Hanford Company conducted an assessment of producing {sup 238}Pu in the Fast Flux Test Facility (FFTF), a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) reactor located near Richland, Washington. The goal of the assessment was to determine whether the FFTF can produce at least 15 kg/yr of {sup 238}Pu to support the needs of the U.S. space program. Plutonium-238, with its 87.7-yr half-life and relatively pure alpha-particle decay mode, is an ideal power source for deep-space missions. The DOE is evaluating options for future {sup 238}Pu production, and the FFTF is a preferred candidate. The key technical issue for FFTF production is the isotopic purity of the product plutonium. FFTF production of at least 15 kg/yr of {sup 238}Pu is feasible. An FFTF physics test was completed and will reduce the large calculational uncertainties in {sup 236}Pu content, and the final test results will allow final production assembly design optimization. Use of the FFTF for {sup 238}Pu production can satisfy the needs of the U.S. space program for many years with a modern reactor that has an outstanding operational record.
- OSTI ID:
- 7071586
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-891103--
- Journal Information:
- Transactions of the American Nuclear Society; (USA), Journal Name: Transactions of the American Nuclear Society; (USA) Vol. 60; ISSN TANSA; ISSN 0003-018X
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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ACTINIDE ISOTOPES
ACTINIDE NUCLEI
ALPHA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
DESIGN
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT
EPITHERMAL REACTORS
EQUIPMENT
EVEN-EVEN NUCLEI
FAST REACTORS
FFTF REACTOR
FUEL ASSEMBLIES
HEAVY ION DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
HEAVY NUCLEI
ISOTOPE PRODUCTION
ISOTOPES
LIQUID METAL COOLED REACTORS
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
NESDPS Office of Nuclear Energy Space and Defense Power Systems
NUCLEI
OPTIMIZATION
PHYSICS
PLUTONIUM 238
PLUTONIUM ISOTOPES
POWER SUPPLIES
RADIOISOTOPE BATTERIES
RADIOISOTOPES
REACTOR COMPONENTS
REACTOR CORES
REACTOR PHYSICS
REACTORS
RESEARCH AND TEST REACTORS
RESEARCH REACTORS
SILICON 32 DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
SODIUM COOLED REACTORS
SPACECRAFT POWER SUPPLIES
SPECIFICATIONS
TEST REACTORS
US DOE
US ORGANIZATIONS
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES