Kernels for the Disposition of Plutonium in High Temperature Reactors

The High Temperature Reactor (HTR) is the subject of a number of national and international research and development projects, with both electricity production and process heat applications as goals. The fuel for near term deployment of this reactor type will almost certainly be based on kernels of UO2 or perhaps on U-C-O, if high burnups are required. Nevertheless, the HTR has an interesting potential for the incineration of plutonium. Dilution of the Pu in kernels in an inert matrix such as yttria stabilised zirconia (YSZ) leads to improved in pile performance of the fuel, simply by increasing the volume to retain fission gases in the first buffer coating layer. In addition, the inert matrix option permits a unique cost effective production route, which eliminates all active liquid wastes.

SOMERS Joseph;  FERNANDEZ CARRETERO Asuncion; 

2006-03-07

Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA)

JRC30271

https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC30271,