Author: Publisher: OECD Publishing
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 60
Book Description
Physics and Fuel Performance of Reactor-Based Plutonium Disposition
Author: Reactor-Based Plutonium Disposition
Author: Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 11
Book Description
The end of the Cold War has created a legacy of surplus fissile materials (plutonium and highly enriched uranium) in the United States (U.S.) and the former Soviet Union. These materials pose a danger to national and international security. During the past few years, the U.S. and Russia have engaged in an ongoing dialog concerning the safe storage and disposition of surplus fissile material stockpiles. In January 1997, the Department of Energy (DOE) announced the U.S. would pursue a dual track approach to rendering approximately 50 metric tons of plutonium inaccessible for use in nuclear weapons. One track involves immobilizing the plutonium by combining it with high-level radioactive waste in glass or ceramic ''logs''. The other method, referred to as reactor-based disposition, converts plutonium into mixed oxide (MOX) fuel for nuclear reactors. The U.S. and Russia are moving ahead rapidly to develop and demonstrate the technology required to implement the MOX option in their respective countries. U.S. MOX fuel research and development activities were started in the 1950s, with irradiation of MOX fuel rods in commercial light water reactors (LWR) from the 1960s--1980s. In all, a few thousand MOX fuel rods were successfully irradiated. Though much of this work was performed with weapons-grade or ''near'' weapons-grade plutonium--and favorable fuel performance was observed--the applicability of this data for licensing and use of weapons-grade MOX fuel manufactured with modern fuel fabrication processes is somewhat limited. The U.S. and Russia are currently engaged in an intensive research, development, and demonstration program to support implementation of the MOX option in our two countries. This paper focuses on work performed in the U.S. and provides a brief summary of joint U.S./Russian work currently underway.
Fuel Qualification Issues and Strategies for Reactor-based Surplus Plutonium Disposition
Author: Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 104
Book Description
The Department of Energy (DOE) has proposed irradiation of mixed-oxide (MOX) fuel in existing commercial reactors as a disposition method for surplus plutonium from the weapons program. The burning of MOX fuel in reactors is supported by an extensive technology base; however, the infrastructure required to implement reactor-based plutonium disposition does not exist domestically. This report identifies and examines the actions required to qualify and license weapons-grade (WG) plutonium-based MOX fuels for use in domestic commercial light-water reactors (LWRs).
Physics and Fuel Performance of Reactor-based Plutonium Disposition
Author: OECD Nuclear Energy AgencyPublisher: OECD Publishing
ISBN:
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 244
Book Description
This publication presents workshop results which reviewed existing technical information from the civil nuclear power programmes that are beneficial to weapons-grade plutonium disposition.
Plutonium Disposition
Author: United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on Energy and Natural ResourcesPublisher:
ISBN:
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 108
Book Description
Distributed to some depository libraries in microfiche.
Management and Disposition of Excess Weapons Plutonium
Author: National Academy of SciencesPublisher: National Academies Press
ISBN: 0309051452
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 432
Book Description
Within the next decade, many thousands of U.S. and Russian nuclear weapons are slated to be retired as a result of nuclear arms reduction treaties and unilateral pledges. Hundreds of tons of plutonium and highly enriched uranium will no longer be needed for weapons purposes and will pose urgent challenges to international security. This is the supporting volume to a study by the Committee on International Security and Arms Control which dealt with all phases of the management and disposition of these materials. This technical study concentrates on the option for the disposition of plutonium, looking in detail at the different types of reactors in which weapons plutonium could be burned and at the vitrification of plutonium, and comparing them using economic, security and environmental criteria.
Management and Disposition of Excess Weapons Plutonium
Author: National Academy of Sciences (U.S.). Panel on Reactor-Related Options for the Disposition of Excess Weapons PlutoniumPublisher:
ISBN:
Category : Nuclear weapons
Languages : en
Pages : 292
Book Description
Fuel Qualification Issues and Strategies for Reactor-based Surplus Plutonium Disposition
Author: B. S. CowellPublisher:
ISBN:
Category : Hazardous waste site remediation
Languages : en
Pages : 103
Book Description
Regaining Security
Author: William J. WeidaPublisher: Routledge
ISBN: 0429816766
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 165
Book Description
First published in 1997, this volume observes that of all the materials, systems and facilities that designed and operated nuclear weapons, the most readily available assets for reuse are often identified as the highly enriched uranium (HEU) and plutonium from warheads. However, proliferation concerns the reuse of much of this material unlikely. This book explores the economic issues surrounding the major expenditures facing the US as it attempts to dispose of weapon-grade nuclear materials in a proliferation-resistant manner. The book discusses the economic values of plutonium and HEU, the economic nature of the nuclear industry, reprocessing and operations costs, the economics of ‘burning’ plutonium to generate electrical power, the economics of down-blending and ‘burning’ HEU, military conversion as a rationale for selecting plutonium disposition options, the economics of transmutation, and the economics of other proposals ranging from monitored surface storage to vitrification. The book concludes by identifying the major cost drivers affecting all disposition options.
Safety Issues Associated with Plutonium Involvement in the Nuclear Fuel Cycle
Author: Theodore A. ParishPublisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 9401145911
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 245
Book Description
The "VOLGA" conferences, hosted in odd-numbered years by the Department of Theoretical and Experimental Reactor Physics of the Moscow Engineering Physics Institute (MEPhI), are some of the most prestigious technical meetings held in Russia. Traditionally, these conferences present the opportunity for reactor physicists from around the world to gather at MEPhI's holiday camp on the banks of the Volga river (near Tver) to exchange ideas and explore innovative concepts related to nuclear power development. In 1997, NATO became involved in the "VOLGA" meetings for the first time by co-sponsoring "VOLGA97" as an advanced research workshop. This workshop broke with tradition a bit in that the venue was moved from MEPhI's holiday camp to a location nearer Moscow. The workshop program was effectively organized in order to cover a broad range of topics relating to the theme of the meeting. Generally, the papers concerned safety related questions associated with utilizing both weapons-grade and reactor-grade plutonium in the nuclear fuel cycle, including facility requirements, licensing issues, proliferation risks, and a variety of advanced concepts for alternative fuel cycles. The program contained a total of ninety-nine papers presented in five days of sessions.