Utilization of nuclear waste plutonium and thorium mixed fuel in candu reactors

ŞAHİN S., Sarer B., Celik Y.

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENERGY RESEARCH, vol.40, no.14, pp.1901-1907, 2016 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 40 Issue: 14
  • Publication Date: 2016
  • Doi Number: 10.1002/er.3464
  • Journal Name: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENERGY RESEARCH
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.1901-1907
  • Keywords: CANDU reactors, thorium, nuclear waste plutonium, high fuel burnup, long operation time, MODULAR HELIUM REACTOR, MINOR ACTINIDES, GAS-TURBINE, ALTERNATIVE FUELS, GRADE PLUTONIUM, PERFORMANCE, CRITICALITY, BURNER, URANIUM
  • Gazi University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Spent nuclear fuel out of conventional light water reactors contains significant amount of even plutonium isotopes, so called reactor grade plutonium. Excellent neutron economy of Canada deuterium uranium (CANDU) reactors can further burn reactor grade plutonium, which has been used as a booster fissile fuel material in form of mixed ThO2/ PuO2 fuel in a CANDU fuel bundle in order to assure reactor criticality. The paper investigates incineration of nuclear waste and the prospects of exploitation of rich world thorium reserves in CANDU reactors.