Local Structure and valence state in Am containing MOX fuel

The Generation IV (Gen IV) initiative foresees sustainable and safe use of nuclear energy for future generations. Three of the systems selected operate with fast neutron spectra, with the novelty that they will transmute their own actinide waste, thereby dramatically reducing the long term radiotoxicity of the spent fuel. Furthermore, proliferation resistance will be enhanced by grouped actinide separation and conversion into new fuel. Thus, the new advanced fuels will contain U, Pu and the minor actinides (MA = Np, Am, Cm). The minor actinides can be deployed in all the (U,Pu)O2 fissile fuel (homogeneous reactor recycling) or in dedicated targets, e.g. (U,MA)O2 (heterogeneous reactor recycling).

VESPA Marika;  JOVANI ABRIL Raquel;  RINI Matteo; 

2011-05-19

Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)

JRC59987