Burn up extension in a PBMR-400 full core using weapon grade plutonium fuel mixed with thorium
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A. Acir
Abstract
In this study, the time dependent criticality and burn up analyses for a full core model of Pebble Bed Modular Reactors, such as PBMR-400, are performed using weapon grade plutonium mixed with thorium as an alternative to enriched UO2 fuel. Neutronic calculations are performed with the MCNP and MONTEBURNS 2.0 using ENDF/B-V nuclear data library. 9.6% enriched UO2 gives an effective multiplication factor of keff ≈ 1.2395, which can be achieved by 18% weapon grade plutonium +82% ThO2 fuel mixture. Thorium mixed fuel with 18% weapon grade plutonium fuel would allow reactor operation periods ∼7 years without fuel change with burn up levels of 205000 MW.D/t, for end of life keff set equal to 1.02.
Kurzfassung
In dieser Studie wurde die Analyse der zeitabhängigen Kritikalität und des Abbrands für Kugelhaufenreaktoren, wie z.B. den PBMR-400, durchgeführt unter Verwendung eines Kernbrennstoffs aus waffenfähigem Plutonium gemischt mit Thorium als Alternative zu angereichertem UO2 als Kernbrennstoff. Neutronische Berechnungen wurden mit Hilfe der Codes MCNP und MONTEBURNS 2.0 unter Verwendung der ENDF/B-V Kerndatenbibliothek durchgeführt. 9,6% angereichertes UO2 ergibt einen effektiven Multiplikationsfaktor von keff ≈ 1,2395, der auch erreicht werden kann durch 18% waffenfähiges Plutonium +82% ThO2 Brennstoffgemisch. Dieses erlaubt eine Reaktorbetriebsdauer von jeweils 7 Jahren ohne Brennstoffwechsel mit einem Abbrand von 205000 MW.D/t für einen keff von 1,02 im Endzustand.
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© 2011, Carl Hanser Verlag, München
Artikel in diesem Heft
- Contents/Inhalt
- Contents
- Summaries/Kurzfassungen
- Summaries
- Technical Contributions/Fachbeiträge
- Overview of safety improvement during RBMK-1500 reactor core lifetime upgrading
- Strategy, main stages and progress of the Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant decommissioning
- Environmental safety aspects of the new solid radioactive waste management and storage facility at the Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant
- Preliminary evaluation of effect of Engineered Safety Features on source term for AHWR containment
- Burn up extension in a PBMR-400 full core using weapon grade plutonium fuel mixed with thorium
- A study on the damage of potential first wall materials in a nuclear fusion reactor using plutonium bearing salt
- An analytical benchmark of MYRRHA ADS in cylindrical geometry
- Dosimetric characteristics of three new design 125I brachytherapy sources
- Determination of 89Zr production parameters via different reactions using ALICE and TALYS codes
- Novel dose calculation and characterization of 32P intravascular brachytherapy stent source
- Cyclotron production of 85Sr by proton irradiation of natRb
- Lessons learnt from PSA for new and advanced reactors in Russia
Artikel in diesem Heft
- Contents/Inhalt
- Contents
- Summaries/Kurzfassungen
- Summaries
- Technical Contributions/Fachbeiträge
- Overview of safety improvement during RBMK-1500 reactor core lifetime upgrading
- Strategy, main stages and progress of the Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant decommissioning
- Environmental safety aspects of the new solid radioactive waste management and storage facility at the Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant
- Preliminary evaluation of effect of Engineered Safety Features on source term for AHWR containment
- Burn up extension in a PBMR-400 full core using weapon grade plutonium fuel mixed with thorium
- A study on the damage of potential first wall materials in a nuclear fusion reactor using plutonium bearing salt
- An analytical benchmark of MYRRHA ADS in cylindrical geometry
- Dosimetric characteristics of three new design 125I brachytherapy sources
- Determination of 89Zr production parameters via different reactions using ALICE and TALYS codes
- Novel dose calculation and characterization of 32P intravascular brachytherapy stent source
- Cyclotron production of 85Sr by proton irradiation of natRb
- Lessons learnt from PSA for new and advanced reactors in Russia
