Comparison of the Burnup Characteristics and Radiotoxicity Hazards of Rock-like Oxide Fuel with Different Types of Additives
Year: 2001
Type: article
Abstract: Burnup characteristics of rock-like oxide (PuO2-ZrO2: ROX) fueled LWR have been studied with an additive ThO2, UO2 or Er2O3. A ROX fueled LWR core has reactivity coefficients and burnup reactivity swing problems, which can be mitigated by these additives. From the burnup calculations of the ROX fueled LWR, it was found that the additive ThO2 causes a few percent decrease in Pu transmutation in ROX fuel, while the additive UO2 or Er2O3 decreases it largely. The production of 241 Am, which is a parent of long-lived 237Np, is smaller in ThO2 added fuel than that in UO2 or Er2O3 added fuel. However, the productions of 243Am and 244Cm are more in ThO2 added fuel than those in UO2 or Er2O3 added fuel. The long-lived fission products (LLFPs) production in ThO2 added fuel is nearly the same as that in UO2 added fuel, and smaller than that in Er2 O3 added fuel. As a result of these Pu transmutation and minor actinides (MAs) and LLFPs productions, ingestion radiotoxicity hazard index of ThO2 added ROX spent fuel is lower than that of UO2 or Er2O3 added ROX spent fuel, except at the 105 years cooling. From these calculations, ThO2 is recommended to be used as the additive in ROX fuel.
Institutions: Tokyo Institute of Technology, Japan Atomic Energy Agency
Language: English
Subfield: Materials Chemistry
Field: Materials Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W2052760164