Izvestiya vuzov. Yadernaya Energetika

The peer-reviewed scientific and technology journal. ISSN: 0204-3327

Computational Simulation of Minor Actinide Burning in a BN-600 Reactor with Fuel without Uranium and Plutonium

9/23/2022 2022 - #03 Modelling processes at nuclear facilities

Korobeynikov V.V. Kolesov V.V. Ignatiev I.A.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.26583/npe.2022.3.12

UDC: 621.039.5

The paper presents the results of studies on the burning of minor actinides (MA) extracted from SNF of thermal reactors in a BN-600 reactor, which uses the complete set of MAs instead of traditional nuclear fuel types: uranium and/or plutonium. The advantages of such approach to MA burning are that long-lived waste is disposed of and energy is produced that can be used, e.g., to generate electricity. Besides, where, e.g., a reactor with uranium or MOX fuel is used for transmutation, apart from burning «foreign» minor actinides, it will additionally generate «its own» MAs. Studies have shown that such reactor can be efficient only if based on fast neutrons, which is due to specific properties of the MA neutron capture and fission cross-sections as compared with traditional fuel nuclides. The calculation results have shown rather a high rate of MA transmutation and burning in a reactor fueled with minor actinides.

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transmutation, minor actinides Am Np Cm burning minor actinides fast neutron nuclear reactor neutron spectrum plutonium nuclear fuel SNF SNF storage biological hazard radiotoxicity

Link for citing the article: Korobeynikov V.V., Kolesov V.V., Ignatiev I.A. Computational Simulation of Minor Actinide Burning in a BN-600 Reactor with Fuel without Uranium and Plutonium. Izvestiya vuzov. Yadernaya Energetika. 2022, no. 3, pp. 134-145; DOI: https://doi.org/10.26583/npe.2022.3.12 (in Russian).

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