| Autor: |
Shmelev, A. N., Geraskin, N. I., Apse, V. A., Glebov, V. B., Kulikov, G. G., Kulikov, E.G. |
| Předmět: |
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| Zdroj: |
Physics of Atomic Nuclei; Dec2023, Vol. 86 Issue 10, p2165-2172, 8p |
| Abstrakt: |
A possibility for large-scale production of high-purity plutonium suitable for radioisotope thermo-electrical generators (RITEG) of spacecraft in a light-water power reactor with supercritical coolant parameters is analyzed. Neptunium and americium fractions of minor actinides from trans-uranium radioactive wastes are used as the starting materials. The starting materials are placed in the central fuel assembly (FA) of the reactor core. It is shown that significant plutonium amounts with the low 236Pu content (below 2 ppm) and high 238Pu content (above 80%) can be produced in the central (Np,Am)-FA surrounded by the assemblies filled up with natural or radiogenic lead. These assemblies play a role of a protective barrier against high-energy fission neutrons emitted by the neighboring UO2-FA which are able to increase the 236Pu content through the threshold 237Np(n,2n)236Pu reaction. Numerical estimates for production rates of the RITEG-suitable plutonium in the central (Np,Am)-FA surrounded by such protective lead-containing assemblies are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Databáze: |
Complementary Index |
| Externí odkaz: |
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