An assessment of the impact of AMCM target rods on the core physics of a PWR

Minor actinides are transuranic isotopes other than plutonium which were created by the neutron capture during the irradiation of nuclear fuel. Minor actinides include isotopes of neptunium, americium, curium, and others, with the greatest quantity being ²⁴¹Am. When light water reactor spent fuel is recycled, the minor actinides are separated from uranium and plutonium and further separation of the actinides can be accomplished if desired. This paper considers the use of Am and Cm ("AmCm3") targets as a replacement for discrete burnable poisons in a PWR and thereby as a means of incinerating a notable proportion of the Am and Cm from spent LWR fuel. A preliminary safety analysis is completed, along with an evaluation of the decay heat and radiotoxicity of the spent fuel containing AmCm targets and the results compared against irradiated standard UO2 fuel.