• Title/Summary/Keyword: Nuclear Transmutation

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Neutronic investigation of waste transmutation option without partitioning and transmutation in a fusion-fission hybrid system

  • Hong, Seong Hee;Kim, Myung Hyun
    • Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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    • v.50 no.7
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    • pp.1060-1067
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    • 2018
  • A feasibility of reusing option of spent nuclear fuel in a fusion-fission hybrid system without partitioning was checked as an alternative option of pyro-processing with critical reactor system. Neutronic study was performed with MCNP 6.1 for this option, direct reuse of spent PWR fuel (DRUP). Various options with DRUP fuel were compared with the reference design concept; transmutation purpose blanket with (U-TRU)Zr fuel loading connected with pyro-processing. Performance parameters to be compared are transmutation performance of transuranic (TRU) nuclides, required fusion power and tritium breeding ratio (TBR). When blanket part is loaded only with DRUP, initial $k_{eff}$ level becomes too low to maintain a practical subcritical system, increasing the required fusion power. In this case, production rate of TRU nuclides exceeds the incineration rate. Design optimization is done for combining DRUP fuel with (U-TRU)Zr fuel. Reactivity swing is reduced to about 2447 pcm through fissile breeding compared to (U-TRU)Zr fuel option. Therefore, a required fusion power is reduced and tritium breeding performance is improved. However, transmutation performance with TRU nuclides especially $^{241}Am$ is degraded because of softening effect of spectrum. It is known that partitioning and transmutation should be accompanied with fusion-fission hybrid system for the effective transmutation of TRU.

Neutronics study on small power ADS loaded with recycled inert matrix fuel for transuranic elements transmutation using Serpent code

  • Vu, Thanh Mai;Hartanto, Donny;Ha, Pham Nhu Viet
    • Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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    • v.53 no.7
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    • pp.2095-2103
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    • 2021
  • A small power ADS design using thorium oxide and diluent matrix reprocessed fuel is proposed for a high transmutation rate, small reactivity swing, and strong safety features. Two fuel matrices (CERCER and CERMET) and different recycled fuel compositions recovered from UO2 spent fuels with 45 GWd/tU and 60 GWd/tU burnup were investigated to determine the suitable fuel for the ADS. It was found that the transmutation of each isotope depends on TRU initial loading amount. After examining the cores, the results show that CERCER fueled ADS has a negative coolant void reactivity (CVR) and a smaller radiotoxicity at discharge compared to that of CERMET core. It implies that CERCER fuel has enhanced safety features and more flavor in terms of radiotoxicity management. To increase fuel utilization and core operation efficiency, a simple assembly shuffling pattern for the CERCER fueled ADS is also proposed. Eigenvalue and burnup calculations were conducted using Serpent 2 with ENDF/B-VII.0 library in both kcode and external source modes, and it indicates that the results of transmutation analyses obtained by kcode only is reliable to discuss the transmutation potential of ADS. Burnup calculation with the fixed-source mode is essential to be used for more practical results of the transmutation by ADS.

Selection of Key Radionuclides for P&T Based on Radiological Impact Assessment for the Deep Geological Disposal of Spent PWR/CANDU/DUPIC Fuels

  • Lee, Dong-Won;Chung, Chang-Hyun;Kim, Chang-Lak;Park, Joo-Wan
    • Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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    • v.33 no.2
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    • pp.231-240
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    • 2001
  • When it is assumed that PWR, CANDU and DUPIC spent fuels are disposed of in deep geological repository, consequent annual individual doses are calculated, and it is shown that doses meet the regulatory limit. From these results, the hazardous radionuclides applicable to partitioning and transmutation are selected. These selected radionuclides such as Tc-99, Ⅰ-129, Cs-135 and Np-237 are then reviewed in terms of partitioning and transmutation. Separation of I-129, Np-237 and Tc-99 from spent fuels is considered desirable, and transmutation of these radionuclides results in remarkable hazard reduction. However, it is concluded that separation and transmutation of Cs-135 may be ineffective although it is classified into a hazardous radionuclide.

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STATUS OF FACILITIES AND EXPERIENCE FOR IRRADIATION OF LWR AND V/HTR FUEL IN THE HFR PETTEN

  • Bakker Klaas;Klaassen Frodo;Schram Ronald;Futterer Michael
    • Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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    • v.38 no.5
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    • pp.417-422
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    • 2006
  • The present paper describes the 45 MW High Flux Reactor (HFR) which is located in Petten, The Netherlands. This paper focuses on selected technical aspects of this reactor and on nuclear fuel irradiation experiments. These fuel experiments are mainly experiments on Light Water Reactor (LWR) and Very/High Temperature Reactor (V/HTR) fuels, but also on Fast Reactor (FR) fuels, transmutation fuels and Material Test Reactor (MTR) fuels.

Conceptual Study of Fusion-Fission Hybrid Reactor for Transmutation of a Nuclear Waste

  • Hong, B.G.
    • Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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    • 2013.02a
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    • pp.670-670
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    • 2013
  • The concept of a fusion-driven transmutation reactor based on LAR (Low Aspect Ratio) tokamak as a neutron source is studied based on ITER physics and technology. The radial build of transmutation reactor components are self-consistently determined by coupling the systems analysis with radiation transport analysis and an optimal configuration of a transmutation reactor for aspect ratio, A in the range of 1.5 to 2.0 is found. The performance of a transmutation reactor is investigated and shows that a transmutation reactor with a neutron source producing fusion power less than 150 MW can destroy the transuranic actinides contained in the spent fuels produced from more than two 1 GWe PWRs with production of the fission power being greater than 2 GW.

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The nuclear fuel cycle code ANICCA: Verification and a case study for the phase out of Belgian nuclear power with minor actinide transmutation

  • Rodriguez, I. Merino;Hernandez-Solis, A.;Messaoudi, N.;Eynde, G. Van den
    • Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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    • v.52 no.10
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    • pp.2274-2284
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    • 2020
  • The Nuclear Fuel Cycle Code "ANICCA" has been developed by SCK•CEN to answer particular questions about the Belgian nuclear fleet. However, the wide range of capabilities of the code make it also useful for international or regional studies that include advanced technologies and strategies of cycle. This paper shows the main features of the code and the facilities that can be simulated. Additionally, a comparison between several codes and ANICCA has also been made to verify the performance of the code by means of a simulation proposed in the last NEA (OECD) Benchmark Study. Finally, a case study of the Belgian nuclear fuel cycle phase out has been carried out to show the possible impact of the transmutation of the minor actinides on the nuclear waste by the use of an Accelerator Driven System also known as ADS. Results show that ANICCA accomplishes its main purpose of simulating the scenarios giving similar outcomes to other codes. Regarding the case study, results show a reduction of more than 60% of minor actinides in the Belgian nuclear cycle when using an ADS, reducing significantly the radiotoxicity and decay heat of the high-level waste and facilitating its management.

Conceptual Design for Accelerator-Driven Sodium-Cooled Sub-critical Transmutation Reactors using Scale Laws and Integrated Code System

  • Lee, Kwang-Gu;Chang, Soon-Heung
    • Proceedings of the Korean Nuclear Society Conference
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    • 1998.05a
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    • pp.660-665
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    • 1998
  • The feasibility study on conceptual design methodology for accelerator-driven sodium-cooled sub-critical transmutation reactors has been conducted to optimize the design parameters from the scale laws and validates reactor performance with the integrated code system. A 1000 MWth sodium-cooled sub-critical transmutation reactor has been scale and verified through the methodology in this paper, which is referred to advanced Liquid Metal Reactor (ALMR). a Pb-Bi target material and a partitioned fuel are the liquid phases, and they are cooled by the circulation of secondary Pb-Bi coolant and by primary sodium coolant, respectively. Overall key design parameters are generated from the scale laws and they are improved and validated by the intergrated code system. Intergrated Code System (ICS) consist of LAHET, HMCNP, ORIGEN2, and COMMIX codes and some files. Through ICS the target region, the core region, and thermal-hydraulic related are analyzed once-through. Results of conceptual design are attached in this paper.

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