High fidelity nuclear energy system optimization towards an environmentally benign, sustainable, and secure energy source.

Technical Report · Fri Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 2010

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/992769· OSTI ID:992769

Tsvetkov, Pavel Valeryevich ^[1]; Rodriguez, Salvador B; Ames, II, David E ^[1]; Rochau, Gary Eugene

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1. Texas A&M University, College Station, TX

A new high-fidelity integrated system method and analysis approach was developed and implemented for consistent and comprehensive evaluations of advanced fuel cycles leading to minimized Transuranic (TRU) inventories. The method has been implemented in a developed code system integrating capabilities of Monte Carlo N - Particle Extended (MCNPX) for high-fidelity fuel cycle component simulations. In this report, a Nuclear Energy System (NES) configuration was developed to take advantage of used fuel recycling and transmutation capabilities in waste management scenarios leading to minimized TRU waste inventories, long-term activities, and radiotoxicities. The reactor systems and fuel cycle components that make up the NES were selected for their ability to perform in tandem to produce clean, safe, and dependable energy in an environmentally conscious manner. The diversity in performance and spectral characteristics were used to enhance TRU waste elimination while efficiently utilizing uranium resources and providing an abundant energy source. A computational modeling approach was developed for integrating the individual models of the NES. A general approach was utilized allowing for the Integrated System Model (ISM) to be modified in order to provide simulation for other systems with similar attributes. By utilizing this approach, the ISM is capable of performing system evaluations under many different design parameter options. Additionally, the predictive capabilities of the ISM and its computational time efficiency allow for system sensitivity/uncertainty analysis and the implementation of optimization techniques.

• Research Organization: Sandia National Laboratories
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: AC04-94AL85000
• OSTI ID: 992769
• Report Number(s): SAND2010-6684
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS
ALPHA-BEARING WASTES
COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
DESIGN
FUEL CYCLE
Nuclear Fuel Cycle And Fuel Materials.
PERFORMANCE
RADIOACTIVE WASTE MANAGEMENT
REACTORS
TRANSMUTATION
Transuranic wastes (TRU)