Long-life Water Cooled Small Reactor with U—Np—Pu Fuel

Abstract

The paper presents the advanced concept of a long-life small light water reactor in which the fuel irradiation time is comparable with reactor life-time. The equilibrium analysis reveals that the U-Np-Pu fuel with unique neutronic properties allows to keep sufficient criticality up to burnup value about 140GWd/tHM. The fuel recycle does not lead to additional Pu accumulation. Both Pu and Np are well protected against un-controlled proliferation by a large fraction of ²³⁸Pu in their mixture. To improve the reactor safety, the wider fuel pin lattice was applied. The radiation damage of structural materials is within the stainless steel limitation.

KEYWORDS:

• burnup
• U-Np-Pu fuel
• non-proliferation
• equilibrium cycle
• moderator-to-fuel ratio
• safety parameters
• water cooled reactors