MOX fuel arrangement for nuclear core
Abstract
In order to use up a stockpile of weapons-grade plutonium, the plutonium is converted into a mixed oxide (MOX) fuel form wherein it can be disposed in a plurality of different fuel assembly types. Depending on the equilibrium cycle that is required, a predetermined number of one or more of the fuel assembly types are selected and arranged in the core of the reactor in accordance with a selected loading schedule. Each of the fuel assemblies is designed to produce different combustion characteristics whereby the appropriate selection and disposition in the core enables the resulting equilibrium cycle to closely resemble that which is produced using urania fuel. The arrangement of the MOX rods and burnable absorber rods within each of the fuel assemblies, in combination with a selective control of the amount of plutonium which is contained in each of the MOX rods, is used to tailor the combustion characteristics of the assembly.
- Inventors:
-
- Portland, CT
- Windsor, CT
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- COMBUSTION ENGINEERING, INC.
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE
- OSTI Identifier:
- 947161
- Patent Number(s):
- 6263038
- Application Number:
- 09/083,442
- Assignee:
- CE Nuclear Power LLC (Windsor, CT)
- Patent Classifications (CPCs):
-
G - PHYSICS G21 - NUCLEAR PHYSICS G21C - NUCLEAR REACTORS
Y - NEW / CROSS SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES Y02 - TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE Y02E - REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC03-93SF19682
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Citation Formats
Kantrowitz, Mark L, and Rosenstein, Richard G. MOX fuel arrangement for nuclear core. United States: N. p., 2001.
Web.
Kantrowitz, Mark L, & Rosenstein, Richard G. MOX fuel arrangement for nuclear core. United States.
Kantrowitz, Mark L, and Rosenstein, Richard G. Tue .
"MOX fuel arrangement for nuclear core". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/947161.
@article{osti_947161,
title = {MOX fuel arrangement for nuclear core},
author = {Kantrowitz, Mark L and Rosenstein, Richard G},
abstractNote = {In order to use up a stockpile of weapons-grade plutonium, the plutonium is converted into a mixed oxide (MOX) fuel form wherein it can be disposed in a plurality of different fuel assembly types. Depending on the equilibrium cycle that is required, a predetermined number of one or more of the fuel assembly types are selected and arranged in the core of the reactor in accordance with a selected loading schedule. Each of the fuel assemblies is designed to produce different combustion characteristics whereby the appropriate selection and disposition in the core enables the resulting equilibrium cycle to closely resemble that which is produced using urania fuel. The arrangement of the MOX rods and burnable absorber rods within each of the fuel assemblies, in combination with a selective control of the amount of plutonium which is contained in each of the MOX rods, is used to tailor the combustion characteristics of the assembly.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Jul 17 00:00:00 EDT 2001},
month = {Tue Jul 17 00:00:00 EDT 2001}
}