Impact of Reprocessed Uranium Management on the Homogeneous Recycling of Transuranics in PWRs

Journal Article · 04 May 2017 · Nuclear Technology

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00295450.2017.1305191 · OSTI ID:1367871

Youinou, Gilles J. ^[1]

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1. Idaho National Lab. (INL), Idaho Falls, ID (United States). Nuclear Systems Design and Analysis Division

This article presents the results of a neutronics analysis related to the homogeneous recycling of transuranics (TRU) in PWRs with a MOX fuel using enriched uranium instead of depleted uranium. It also addresses an often, if not always, overlooked aspect related to the recycling of TRU in PWRs, namely the use of reprocessed uranium. From a neutronics point of view, it is possible to multi-recycle the entirety of the plutonium with or without neptunium and americium in a PWR fleet using MOX-EU fuel in between one third and two thirds of the fleet. Recycling neptunium and americium with plutonium significantly decreases the decay heat of the waste stream between 100 to 1,000 years compared to those of an open fuel cycle or when only plutonium is recycled. The uranium present in MOX-EU used fuel still contains a significant amount of ²³⁵uranium and recycling it makes a major difference on the natural uranium needs. For example, a PWR fleet recycling its plutonium, neptunium and americium in MOXEU needs 28 percent more natural uranium than a reference UO₂ open cycle fleet generating the same energy if the reprocessed uranium is not recycled and 19 percent less if the reprocessed uranium is recycled back in the reactors, i.e. a 47 percent difference.

• Research Organization: Idaho National Laboratory, Idaho Falls, ID (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Nuclear Energy (NE)
• Grant/Contract Number: AC07-05ID14517
• OSTI ID: 1367871
• Report Number(s): INL/JOU--16-40546
• Journal Information: Nuclear Technology, Journal Name: Nuclear Technology Journal Issue: 2 Vol. 198; ISSN 0029-5450
• Publisher: American Nuclear Society (ANS)Copyright Statement
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English