Abstract
The three most important americium isotopes, 241Am, 242mAm, and 243Am originate in the nuclear fuel of pressurized water reactors (PWRs), fast reactors (FRs), or accelerator-driven systems (ADSs) in a ratio of 241Am/243Am between ~0.45/0.55 to ~0.85/0.15. The content of 242mAm in the spent fuel of PWRs, FRs, and ADSs is relatively small and varies between 0.08 and 4.5%. Only by dedicated breeding in 241Am fuel and blanket assemblies could this 242mAm content be increased to ~7%. Only the isotope 241Am has a relatively high alpha-particle heat production whereas the isotopes 242mAm and 243Am have a relatively small alpha-particle heat production. All three americium isotopes are spontaneous fission neutron emitters.In this paper the different isotopic compositions of the three americium isotopes, 241Am, 242mAm, and 243Am are assembled for a number of fuel cycle strategies for PWRs, FRs and ADSs. Then, the critical masses, spontaneous fission neutron sources, and alpha-particle heat power of these different americium compositions are calculated. In a preignition analysis for gun systems and implosion systems, it is shown that only the implosion system would be applicable to the considered americium isotopic compositions. A subsequent thermal analysis with assumptions for the geometry and choice of materials of so-called hypothetical nuclear explosive devices (HNEDs) shows that the high alpha-particle heat power in the fissile reactor americium part would lead to such high temperatures that the surrounding chemical high explosives would melt and self-explode, and the americium metal would melt.Such HNEDs on the basis of reactor americium as fissile material would be technically unfeasible.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.