Publication

On the physics feasibility of LWR plutonium fuels without uranium

Rakesh Chawla
1995
Journal Articles

Abstract

Reactor physics characteristics have been assessed for a range of mixtures of plutonium and different burnable poisons (BPs) from the viewpoint of providing a possible LWR fuel without uranium. A much higher potential for plutonium-inventory reduction than with PuO2/UO2 (MOX) fuel has clearly been indicated and a once-through operational mode could prove sufficient for the purpose. Reactor control aspects have been evaluated qualitatively by comparing values for reactivity coefficients and control absorber worths with those for reference UO2 and MOX fuels. It is suggested that an LWR with a suitably chosen Pu-BP mixture as fuel should be basically feasible from physics considerations alone

Official source

https://infoscience.epfl.ch/entities/publication/38c489e8-204f-4526-8141-321cf1032612

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Rakesh Chawla
1995
Journal Articles

Abstract

Official source

https://infoscience.epfl.ch/entities/publication/38c489e8-204f-4526-8141-321cf1032612

About this result

Related concepts (32)

MOX fuel

Mixed oxide fuel, commonly referred to as MOX fuel, is nuclear fuel that contains more than one oxide of fissile material, usually consisting of plutonium blended with natural uranium, reprocessed uranium, or depleted uranium. MOX fuel is an alternative to the low-enriched uranium (LEU) fuel used in the light-water reactors that predominate nuclear power generation. For example, a mixture of 7% plutonium and 93% natural uranium reacts similarly, although not identically, to LEU fuel (3 to 5% uranium-235).

Nuclear fuel

Nuclear fuel is material used in nuclear power stations to produce heat to power turbines. Heat is created when nuclear fuel undergoes nuclear fission. Most nuclear fuels contain heavy fissile actinide elements that are capable of undergoing and sustaining nuclear fission. The three most relevant fissile isotopes are uranium-233, uranium-235 and plutonium-239. When the unstable nuclei of these atoms are hit by a slow-moving neutron, they frequently split, creating two daughter nuclei and two or three more neutrons.

Nuclear fuel cycle

The nuclear fuel cycle, also called nuclear fuel chain, is the progression of nuclear fuel through a series of differing stages. It consists of steps in the front end, which are the preparation of the fuel, steps in the service period in which the fuel is used during reactor operation, and steps in the back end, which are necessary to safely manage, contain, and either reprocess or dispose of spent nuclear fuel.

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On the physics feasibility of LWR plutonium fuels without uranium

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