Izvestiya vuzov. Yadernaya Energetika

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

The Use of Minor Actinides as Burnout Absorbers in Thermal Neutron Nuclear Reactors

3/25/2025 2025 - #01 Application of nuclear tech

Kolesov V.V. Korobeynikov V.V. Isanov K.A.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.26583/npe.2025.1.10

UDC: 621.039.5

Currently, the most widely used reactor units are VVER type. The strategy for the development of nuclear energy in Russia is based on the transition to a two-component nuclear energy system, which also includes fast neutron reactors. However, for a long time, nuclear energy will be based on VVER-1000 and VVER-1200 thermal reactors. It is currently important to improve reactors of this type in the direction of increasing the burn up depth of nuclear fuel, which is ensured by long fuel cycles and an extension of the reactor campaign. One of the problems of nuclear energy is the production and accumulation of minor actinides in spent nuclear fuel. Special attention to minor actinides is associated with their high radioactivity and long half-lives, amounting to hundreds and even millions of years. At present, there is no specific approach to their handling. As noted above, they cannot simply be buried due to the very long time it takes to reduce their radioactivity. It is assumed that the most suitable solution for their disposal is burning and transmutation in nuclear reactors. In this case, it is possible to reduce their quantity and, consequently, reduce the radioactivity of the waste before final disposal. Of course, some of the neutrons useful for energy production will go to nuclear transformations of harmful minor actinides into less harmful ones. This paper examines the possibilities of using minor actinides as burnable absorbers in thermal neutron reactors. This will increase the efficiency of the reactor instead of reducing it with their routine burning. Basically, Am and Np with various nuclide compositions were used for the studies. A comparison of nuclear fuel types was made in terms of the efficiency of using minor actinides as burnable absorbers and their burning.

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transmutation burnout of minor actinides spent fuel radioactivity biological hazard spent fuel storage neutron spectrum heterogeneity

Link for citing the article: Kolesov V.V., Korobeynikov V.V., Isanov K.A. The Use of Minor Actinides as Burnout Absorbers in Thermal Neutron Nuclear Reactors. Izvestiya vuzov. Yadernaya Energetika. 2025, no. 1, pp. 141-151; DOI: https://doi.org/10.26583/npe.2025.1.10 (in Russian).

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