Transmutation of transuranic elements in advanced MOX and IMF fuel assemblies utilizing multi-recycling strategies /
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| Other Authors: | |
| Format: | Thesis eBook |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
[College Station, Tex.] :
[Texas A&M University],
[2011]
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | Link to OAK Trust copy |
| Abstract: | The accumulation of spent nuclear fuel may be hindering the expansion of nuclear electricity production. However, the reprocessing and recycling of spent fuel may reduce its volume and environmental burden. Although fast spectrum reactors are the preferred modality for transuranic element transmutation, such fast spectrum systems are in very short supply. It is therefore legitimate to investigate the recycling potential of thermal spectrum systems, which constitute the overwhelming majority of nuclear power plants worldwide. To do so efficiently, several new fuel assembly designs are proposed in this Thesis: these include (1) Mixed Oxide Fuel (MOX), (2) MOX fuel with Americium coating, (3) Inert-Matrix Fuel (IMF) with UOX as inner zone, and (4) IMF with MOX as inner zone. All these designs are investigated in a multi-recycling strategy, whereby the spent fuel from a given generation is re-used for the next generation. Computer simulations in terms of in-reactor fuel depletion and long-term isotopic decay are carried out. Results are summarized and measured in terms of Transuranics mass, long-term radiotoxicity and decay heat after irradiation in reactor. All the results are normalized to per 1TWh-electricity produced. |
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| Item Description: | "Major Subject: Nuclear Engineering" Title from author supplied metadata (automated record created 2011-02-28 11:02:00). Electronic resource. |
| Physical Description: | 1 online resource. |
| Bibliography: | Includes bibliographical references. |