A new reactor concept without uranium or thorium for burning weapons-grade plutonium

Conference · Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1993 · Transactions of the American Nuclear Society; (United States)

OSTI ID:6959980

Ryskamp, J M; Schnitzler, B G; Fletcher, C D; Moore, R L; Gaeta, M J; Lundberg, L B; Jahshan, S N; Chang, G S ^[1]

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1. Idaho National Engineering Lab., Idaho Falls, ID (United States)

A concept has been developed for a low-temperature, low-pressure, low-power density, and low coolant flow rate light water reactor (LWR) that destroys plutonium quickly without using uranium or thorium. This concept is very safe and could be designed, constructed, and operated in a reasonable time frame. The purpose of this paper is to present this new concept. The National Academy of Sciences (NAS) requested that the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory (INEL) examine concepts that focus only on the main goal: the most rapid possible destruction of 50 000 kg of weapons-grade plutonium. The INEL concept does not produce electricity. Not considering other missions frees the design from the paradigms and constraints used by proponents of other disposition concepts. The plutonium destruction design goal is most easily achievable with a large, moderate power reactor that operates at a significantly lower thermal power density than is appropriate for reactors with multiple design goals.

• OSTI ID: 6959980
• Report Number(s): CONF-931160-; CODEN: TANSAO
• Journal Information: Transactions of the American Nuclear Society; (United States), Vol. 69; Conference: American Nuclear Society (ANS) winter meeting, San Francisco, CA (United States), 14-18 Nov 1993; ISSN 0003-018X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
PLUTONIUM
BURNUP
WATER COOLED REACTORS
DESIGN
FUEL MANAGEMENT
FUEL CYCLE
NUCLEAR FUELS
RADIOACTIVE WASTE MANAGEMENT
ACTINIDES
ELEMENTS
ENERGY SOURCES
FUELS
MANAGEMENT
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METALS
REACTOR MATERIALS
REACTORS
TRANSURANIUM ELEMENTS
WASTE MANAGEMENT
210100* - Power Reactors
Nonbreeding
Light-Water Moderated
Boiling Water Cooled
210200 - Power Reactors
Nonbreeding
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Nonboiling Water Cooled
050800 - Nuclear Fuels- Spent Fuels Reprocessing
052000 - Nuclear Fuels- Waste Management