Feasibility Study for Minor Actinides Transmutation in Conventional Power Reactors

Abstract

The handling and storage of the spent fuel from the current nuclear power reactors is one of the major ecological challenges in front of the nuclear energy industry, due to its long period of high radiotoxicity. It is mainly caused by the long-lived minor actinides generated in the nuclear fuel. Therefore profound study of the possibilities for shortening the terms of storage of spent nuclear fuels and some of high radioactive waste through the currently available technologies is necessary. The possibility for transmutation of Neptunium, Americium and Curium isotopes, as most abundant in the spent nuclear fuel of the wide-spread Light Water Reactors is evaluated in the paper using one of the most recent tools, available for the purpose. The most technologically accessible option, the current nuclear power reactors is analysed. The fuel in the cores of the LWR (PWR) and the PHWR (CANDU) type of reactors are modelled and the variation of the quantity of Neptunium, Americium and Curium isotopes after typical fuel campaigns for these reactors is estimated. The obtained results show that under the investigated conditions both types of reactors show potential for decrease of the minor actinides quantity in spent fuel before its final disposal, therefore provide a vital option toward sustainable and environmentally friendly nuclear spent fuel management.