Reprocessing free nuclear fuel production via fusion fission hybrids

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• 作者：Mike Kotschenreuther ; ^{mtk@mail.utexas.edu} ; Prashant Valanju ; Swadesh Mahajan
• 关键词：Fusion ; Fission ; Hybrid ; Fuel ; Breeding ; Reprocessing-free ; Spherical tokamak
• 刊名：Fusion Engineering and Design
• 出版年：2012
• 期刊代码：22_09203796
• 类别：pw
• 出版时间：May, 2012
• 卷：87
• 期：4
• 页码：303-317
• 文件大小：1471 K

摘要

Fusion fission hybrids, driven by a copious source of fusion neutrons can open qualitatively 鈥渘ew鈥?cycles for transmuting nuclear fertile material into fissile fuel. A totally reprocessing-free (ReFree) Th²³²-U²³³ conversion fuel cycle is presented. Virgin fertile fuel rods are exposed to neutrons in the hybrid, and burned in a traditional light water reactor, without ever violating the integrity of the fuel rods. Throughout this cycle (during breeding in the hybrid, transport, as well as burning of the fissile fuel in a water reactor) the fissile fuel remains a part of a bulky, countable, ThO₂ matrix in cladding, protected by the radiation field of all fission products. This highly proliferation-resistant mode of fuel production, as distinct from a reprocessing dominated path via fast breeder reactors (FBR), can bring great acceptability to the enterprise of nuclear fuel production, and insure that scarcity of naturally available U²³⁵ fuel does not throttle expansion of nuclear energy. It also provides a reprocessing free path to energy security for many countries. Ideas and innovations responsible for the creation of a high intensity neutron source are also presented.