Abstract
Production of denaturated fissile fuel in a thorium fusion breeder has been investigated by mixing the fertile fuel with natural-UO 2 and LWR (light water reactors) spent nuclear fuel. Four different coolants (pressurised helium, Flibe ‘Li 2BeF 4’, natural lithium and Li 17Pb 83 eutectic) are selected for the nuclear heat transfer. In order to obtain a power flattening in the fissile-fertile zone, the UO 2- or the spent fuel-fraction in the mixed oxide (MOX) fuel has been gradually increased in radial direction. Power plant operation periods between 13 and 29 months are evaluated to achieve a fissile fuel enrichment ∼4%, under a first-wall fusion neutron energy current of 5 MW m −2 (plant factor of 100%). For a plant operation over 4 years, enrichment grades between 6.0 and 11.5% are calculated for the investigated MOX fuel and coolant compositions. The 238U component of natural-UO 2 can provide a limited proliferation hardening only for the 233U component, whereas, the homogenous mixture of ThO 2 with a small quantity of (>4%) LWR spent nuclear fuel remains all-over non-prolific for both, uranium and plutonium components.
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