Flexibility of ADS for minor actinides transmutation in different two-stage PWR-ADS fuel cycle scenarios

Zhou, Shengcheng; Wu, Hongchun; Zheng, Youqi

doi:10.1016/j.anucene.2017.08.037

Cited by 15 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…From back-end consideration, TRU can be eliminated through transmutation in nuclear reactor or accelerator-driven system (ADS) [16]. In term of resource utilisation, back-end TRU transmutation allows the exploitation of uranium potential instead of discarding it for the sake of waste minimisation.…”

Section: Introduction mentioning

confidence: 99%

Transmutation of Transuranic Elements as Solid Coating in Molten Salt Reactor Fuel Channel

Dwijayanto,

Miftasani,

Harto

2023

Tri Dasa Mega

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The accumulation of spent nuclear fuel (SNF) is presently considered as a hindrance of the massive deployment of nuclear power plant, especially regarding the transuranic (TRU) elements. Eliminating TRU through transmutation is one of the most feasible alternative as a technical solution to solve the issue. This study explores the possibility of TRU transmutation using molten salt reactor (MSR) in a heterogeneous configuration, where a solid TRU is coated inside the fuel channel filled with liquid salt fuel. Such configuration is proposed to allow higher TRU loading into fluoride salt mixture without compromising the safety of the reactor. TRU coating was applied in consecutively outward radial fuel channel layers with coating thicknesses of 2.5 mm and 5 mm. Calculation was performed using MCNP6.2 radiation transport code and ENDF/B-VII.0 neutron cross section library. From the results, TRU coating with smaller thickness and positioned closer to the centre of the core exhibit higher transmutation efficiency due to exposure to higher neutron flux. Highest transmutation efficiency was achieved at 67.93% after 160 days of burnup. This shows a potential of achieving highly efficient TRU using heterogeneous configuration in MSR core.

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Section: Introduction mentioning

confidence: 99%

Transmutation of Transuranic Elements as Solid Coating in Molten Salt Reactor Fuel Channel

Dwijayanto,

Miftasani,

Harto

2023

Tri Dasa Mega

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“…Hence, the transmutation of MAs in thermal reactors is an effective means to eliminate the high radioactive hazards. Until now, numerous research works on MA transmutation based on different types of reactors have been done, demonstrating that thermal reactors, fast reactors, and accelerator‐driven systems are feasible for this purpose 6‐13 . However, the limited MA loading is a main constraint for obtaining high transmutation capability in solid‐fuel reactors because it must reconcile the enough reactivity for criticality without online refueling 14 …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Parametric study on minor actinides transmutation in a graphite‐moderated thorium‐based molten salt reactors

Zou

et al. 2021

Int J Energy Res

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Summary Transmutation of minor actinides (MAs) is an effective solution to reduce the long‐term radiotoxicity of nuclear waste. Online refueling and no fuel rod fabrication in thorium‐based molten salt reactors (TMSR) are two remarkable advantages of MA transmutation. However, MA solubility limit of the fuel salt and the neutron spectrum in the core are two key parameters that have a strong impact on MA transmutation capability. In this paper, three types of carrier salt with different MA solubility limits and various salt volume fractions (SVFs) are introduced in a TMSR core to evaluate the MA transmutation characteristics. The results indicate that the Flibe salt with the best neutron economy can obtain the highest MA transmutation rate (TR), while the Flinak salt with the largest MA inventory can achieve the highest specific MA transmutation consumption (STC). STC and TR for the case with the Flibe salt and 5% SVF are about 200 kg/GWth.yr and 82%, respectively, which indicates that it can consume the annual MA yields from about 3.37 typical pressurized water reactors (PWRs). Meanwhile, the STC and TR for the case with the Flinak salt and 40% SVF are about 366 kg/GWth.yr and 75%, respectively, which indicates that it can consume the annual MA yields from about 50 typical PWRs. In addition, the total radiotoxicity of MAs after 50‐year operation in TMSR can be lowered by as high as about 50%. The significant production of Pu isotopes can be reused as nuclear fuel in fast reactors. In particular, Pu‐238, with the mass fraction of more than 60% in Pu isotopes, is a useful material for many nuclear applications. In conclusion, it is feasible to transmute MAs in TMSR and thus achieve the goals of reduction of MA's long‐term radioactive hazards.

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Minor Actinides Transmutation in Thermal, Epithermal and Fast Molten Salt Reactors with Very Deep Burnup

Zou

Zhou

et al. 2023

Springer Proceedings in Physics

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Deep burnup and high minor actinides (MA) loading are two alluring features for molten salt reactors (MSR) to incinerate the nuclear wastes. The transmutation capability of minor actinides in MSR is tightly related with the neutron spectrum, the loading of MA and the carrier salt compositions. In this work, three MSR core designs (thermal, epithermal and fast) and two types of salt compositions (Flibe and Flinak) with different solubility limits of transuranic elements are chosen for analyzing the transmutation capability of MA. With a significant mole fraction of MA loading (4% in the Flibe salt and 10% in the Flinak salt) and the continuous MA refueling, MSR acquires an excellent transmutation rate. The specific incineration rates of MA in the thermal, epithermal and fast MSR cores with the Flibe salt are about 167, 185 and 206 kg/GWth/y, respectively. With a larger loading of MA in the Flinak salt, a higher annual incineration rate of MA can be obtained, which are about 170, 206 and 247 kg/GWth/y in thermal, epithermal and fast MSRs, respectively. On the other hand, since there is a preferred neutron economy for the Flibe salt, a higher MA incineration ratio is achieved than that for the Flinak salt. When the neutron spectrum varies from the thermal to fast region, the MA incineration ratio ranges from 0.79 to 0.82 for the Flibe salt and it ranges from 0.75 to 0.81 for the Flinak salt. The transmutation capability of MA in MSR is much higher than that in solid-fueled reactors (~20 kg/GW.y in a PWR), which can provide a feasible way for reducing the current nuclear wastes.

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Flexibility of ADS for minor actinides transmutation in different two-stage PWR-ADS fuel cycle scenarios

Cited by 15 publications

References 18 publications

Transmutation of Transuranic Elements as Solid Coating in Molten Salt Reactor Fuel Channel

Transmutation of Transuranic Elements as Solid Coating in Molten Salt Reactor Fuel Channel

Parametric study on minor actinides transmutation in a graphite‐moderated thorium‐based molten salt reactors

Minor Actinides Transmutation in Thermal, Epithermal and Fast Molten Salt Reactors with Very Deep Burnup

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