Proliferation Analysis of Multiple Recycling of Re-enriched Reprocessed U Fuel in Commercial Light Water Reactors
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Background Nuclear power offers a reliable and stable source of energy, providing a significant advantage in meeting the growing global energy demand. When managed effectively, nuclear energy has the potential to be a sustainable option for reducing carbon emissions. However, the accumulation of secondary nuclear materials such as plutonium (Pu), minor actinides (MA), and reprocessed uranium (RepU) presents a challenge, as these materials could contribute to proliferation risks. To ensure the long-term sustainability of nuclear energy, careful management, technological intervention, and international safeguards are necessary to mitigate these risks and enhance the overall safety and security of nuclear fuel cycles. Method The advantage of intrinsic features of nuclear fuel when combined with the extrinsic measures, could effectively help tackle proliferation risk. This study assesses the proliferation resistance of re-enriched RepU fuel discharged from a commercial light water reactor (LWR) water-cooled water-moderated energetic reactor (VVER) by estimating the buildup of even-numbered U and Pu isotopes, especially 236 U and 238 Pu to make the spent nuclear fuel (SNF) less accessible for military purposes due to the nuclear properties of 238 Pu, such as high heat generation and spontaneous neutron generation rates. Results Natural U only contains 0.72 wt% of 235 U, 0.0054 wt% of 234 U and 99.275 wt% of 238 U. During the fuel burnup, in addition to these three isotopes, 236 U, considered one of the signature isotopes for the RepU, is produced by the neutron capture of 235 U that does not lead to fission, it absorbs a neutron to create, 237 U which then beta decays to 237 Np, and the production of 238 Pu is achieved by transmutation chain reaction initiates from 235 U to 237 Np through 236 U. Multiple recycling of SNF enables 238 Pu to increase up to 8% which is effective enough to prevent the spent fuel to be used for military purposes. Conclusion This study demonstrates that multiple recycling of RepU fuel discharged from VVER enhances the proliferation resistance of SNF by increasing even-numbered U and Pu isotopes.
Authors: Melis Yildiz Sakarya, Sunil S. Chirayath
Language: English
Subfield: Aerospace Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4416440787