Since 18 of December 2019 conferences.iaea.org uses Nucleus credentials. Visit our help pages for information on how to Register and Sign-in using Nucleus.

19–22 Apr 2022
Vienna, Austria
Europe/Vienna timezone
FR22 starts in Vienna 19 - 22 April 2022 Online Stream: https://event.do/iaea/a/#/events/5048

Controlled thermonuclear fusion: potential role of a joint (Th-U-Pu) nuclear fuel cycle

21 Apr 2022, 13:40
2h
Vienna, Austria

Vienna, Austria

POSTER Track 3. Fuels, Fuel Cycles and Waste Management Poster Session

Speaker

Dr Evgeny Kulikov (National Research Nuclear University MEPhI)

Description

This paper aims at finding solutions of so important problems of nuclear power as decreasing the scope and the number of technological operations, as well as enhancing the proliferation resistance of fissile materials in nuclear fuel cycle by means of minimal changes in the cycle. The method is including fusion neutron sources with thorium blanket into future nuclear power system. In addition to production of light uranium fraction consisting of 233U and 234U, high-energy 14-MeV neutrons emitted in the process of fusion (D,T)-reaction can generate 231Pa and 232U through (n,2n)- and (n,3n)-reactions.
It has been demonstrated that admixture of 231Pa into fresh fuel composition can stabilize its neutron-multiplying properties thanks to two well-fissile consecutive isotopes 232U and 233U, products of radiative neutron capture by 231Pa. Coupled system of two well-fissile isotopes can allow us to reach the following goals: the higher fuel burn-up and, as a consequence, the longer fuel lifetime; the shorter scope and the lower number of technological operations in nuclear fuel cycle; the better economic potential of nuclear power technologies. Such a fuel cycle presumes shifting from 235U to 233U as more attractive fuel material for thermal nuclear reactors. Uranium component will be protected from unauthorized proliferation by the presence of light uranium isotope 232U. The use of well-mastered traditional uranium-based fuels in power LWR will be preserved. The idea suggests fresh fuel fabrication for power LWR without applications of isotope separation technologies.

Speaker's title Mr
Speaker's email address egkulikov@mephi.ru
Country/Int. organization Russian Federation
Affiliation/Organization National Research Nuclear University MEPhI

Primary authors

Dr Vladimir Apse (National Research Nuclear University MEPhI) Dr Nikolay Geraskin (National Research Nuclear University MEPhI) Dr Gennady Kulikov (National Research Nucler University MEPhI) Dr Evgeny Kulikov (National Research Nuclear University MEPhI) Dr Vladimir Savander (National Research Nuclear University MEPhI) Prof. Anatoly Shmelev (National Research Nuclear University MEPhI)

Presentation materials

Peer reviewing

Paper