Fuel Cycle Utilizing Plutonium-238 as a“Heat Spike” for Proliferation Resistance

Waltz, W. R.; Godfrey, W.L.; Williams, A.K.

doi:10.13182/nt80-a32603

“…Since early 1980, efforts to deter Pu utilization for nuclear explosive devices (NEDs) have been carried out, for instance, by improving the physical characteristics of the Pu vector itself with regard to nonproliferation. [1][2][3] Recently, Saito et al have proposed the concept of Protected Pu Production (P 3 ). [4][5][6] In this concept, Minor Actinides (MAs) are utilized as a resource of 238 Pu to increase the proliferation resistance of Pu in the fuel, and 238 Pu production by transmutation of MAs has been verified with some experiments.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluation of Proliferation Resistance of Plutonium Based on Decay Heat

Kimura

¹

,

Saito

²

,

Sagara

³

2011

Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology

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The present paper is prepared for the peaceful use of nuclear energy. Proliferation resistance of plutonium can be enhanced by increasing the decay heat of plutonium. For example, it can be enhanced by increasing the isotopic fraction of 238 Pu, which has the largest decay heat among plutonium isotopes. In the present paper, the proliferation resistance of plutonium was evaluated based on decay heat with a physical assessment model. New criteria were proposed to evaluate the proliferation resistance based on isotopic compositions of plutonium from the viewpoint of decay heat. The present criteria were applied to evaluate the proliferation resistance of plutonium produced in typical Light Water Reactor and Fast Breeder Reactor based on an evaluation function ''Attractiveness'' as case studies.

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“…Since early 1980, efforts to deter Pu utilization for nuclear explosive devices (NEDs) have been carried out, for instance, by improving the physical characteristics of the Pu vector itself with regard to nonproliferation. [1][2][3] Recently, Saito et al have proposed the concept of Protected Pu Production (P 3 ). [4][5][6] In this concept, Minor Actinides (MAs) are utilized as a resource of 238 Pu to increase the proliferation resistance of Pu in the fuel, and 238 Pu production by transmutation of MAs has been verified with some experiments.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluation of Proliferation Resistance of Plutonium Based on Decay Heat

Kimura¹,

Saito²,

Sagara³

2011

J. Nucl. Sci. Technol.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The present paper is prepared for the peaceful use of nuclear energy. Proliferation resistance of plutonium can be enhanced by increasing the decay heat of plutonium. For example, it can be enhanced by increasing the isotopic fraction of 238 Pu, which has the largest decay heat among plutonium isotopes. In the present paper, the proliferation resistance of plutonium was evaluated based on decay heat with a physical assessment model. New criteria were proposed to evaluate the proliferation resistance based on isotopic compositions of plutonium from the viewpoint of decay heat. The present criteria were applied to evaluate the proliferation resistance of plutonium produced in typical Light Water Reactor and Fast Breeder Reactor based on an evaluation function ''Attractiveness'' as case studies.

show abstract