Open AccessLaboratory directed research and development on disposal of plutonium recovered from weapons. FY1994 final report
Author(s) -
J.H. Pitts,
Jor-Shan Choi
Publication year - 1994
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Reports
DOI - 10.2172/41345
Subject(s) - plutonium , mox fuel , criticality , nuclear engineering , nuclear weapon , plutonium 240 , nuclear power , environmental science , engineering , waste management , radiochemistry , chemistry , plutonium 239 , nuclear physics , physics , neutron , fission
This research project was conceived as a multi-year plan to study the use of mixed plutonium oxide-uranium oxide (MOX) fuel in existing nuclear reactors. Four areas of investigation were originally proposed: (1) study reactor physics including evaluation of control rod worth and power distribution during normal operation and transients; (2) evaluate accidents focusing upon the reduced control rod worth and reduced physical properties of PuO{sub 2}; (3) assess the safeguards required during fabrication and use of plutonium bearing fuel assemblies; and (4) study public acceptance issues associated with using material recovered from weapons to fuel a nuclear reactor. First year accomplishments are described. Appendices contain 2 reports entitled: development and validation of advanced computational capability for MOX fueled ALWR assembly designs; and long-term criticality safety concerns associated with weapons plutonium disposition