Studies on LLFP transmutation in a pressurized water reactor

Abstract

A systematic study on the long-lived fission product (LLFP) transmutation in a pressurized water reactor (PWR) is performed, aiming at an optimal transmutation strategy for present nuclear energy development. The LLFPs selected in the analysis include 99Tc and 129I discharged from light water reactors (LWRs). The isotope 127I is also considered to avoid the difficulties in isotopes separation. To minimize the negative impacts of LLFPs on the core performance and safety parameters, metallic technetium or MgI2 target pins mixed with ZrH2 are designed and investigated. Through the numerical analysis on equilibrium cycles, the transmuted amounts of 99Tc and 129I equal to the yields from 1.94 and 4.22 PWRs with a power of 1000 MWe, respectively. Numerical results indicate that both 99Tc and 129I can be transmuted conveniently in present PWRs in the form of target pins.