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Plutonium Incineration in LWR's by a Once-Through Cycle with a Rock-Like Fuel

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 February 2011

C. Degueldre ,
U. Kasemeyer ,
F. Botta  and
G. Ledergerber
C. Degueldre
Affiliation:
also University of Geneva, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland.
U. Kasemeyer
Affiliation:
Paul Scherrer Institute, 5232 Villigen-PSI, Switzerland.
F. Botta
Affiliation:
Paul Scherrer Institute, 5232 Villigen-PSI, Switzerland.
G. Ledergerber
Affiliation:
Paul Scherrer Institute, 5232 Villigen-PSI, Switzerland.
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Abstract

Plutonium incineration in a uranium-free fuel by a once-through burning cycle in LWR’s followed by geological disposal of the rock-like material as a high level waste is discussed here. For burning plutonium of various origins, zirconium oxide is a promising candidate as inert matrix because it is stabilised by rare earth oxides (Er, Ho, Eu … Y) in a single phase solid solution with a stable cubic structure. In this material, selected rare earth isotopes can also act as burnable poisons. The spent fuel may be licensed as waste material on the basis of the inventory, the stability of the material and the behaviour of natural analogue material (e.g. baddeleyite). A fuel composed of 90-80% ZrO2, 7–14% PuO2 and 3–6% Er2O3 (At%), with potential addition of Y2O3 (as additional stabiliser), is suggested for experimental study. Such a fuel employed in LWR's could generate power effectively while transmuting about 95% of the 239Pu

Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 412: Symposium V – Scientific Basis for Nuclear Waste Management XIX , 1995 , 15
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 1996

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