Effects of multi-recycling of uranium reprocessed from spent nuclear fuel on the proliferation resistance of plutonium and uranium

Masaki Saito; Sunil S. Chirayath

doi:10.1016/j.anucene.2023.110187

Effects of multi-recycling of uranium reprocessed from spent nuclear fuel on the proliferation resistance of plutonium and uranium

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Abstract

The effects of re-enriching and multi-recycling reprocessed uranium (RepU) from the spent nuclear fuel of light water reactors on the proliferation resistance (PR) of Pu and U are studied. The presence of ²³⁶U and ²³⁸Pu enhances the PR of multi-recycled RepU. The ²³⁶U/²³⁵U ratio of RepU varies from 0.4 to 1.2, depending on the initial ²³⁵U enrichment and fuel burnup. ²³⁶U is co-enriched while re-enriching ²³⁵U in RepU. Based on the centrifuge enrichment data, the enrichment coefficient of ²³⁶U (α₂₃₆), defined as ²³⁶U/²³⁵U ratio after and before enrichment, is 0.703, on average. The α₂₃₆ value is utilized in a simple model to estimate the attainable maximum possible ²³⁵U enrichment for multi-recycled RepU. Estimations showed an increase in the PR of multi-recycled and re-enriched RepU, which was confirmed by matched-abundance ratio cascade model. The PR of Pu is enhanced in each recycle due to the increased production of ²³⁸Pu from ²³⁶U.

Original language	English
Article number	110187
Journal	Annals of Nuclear Energy
Volume	195
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anucene.2023.110187
State	Published - Jan 2024
Externally published	Yes

Funding

The authors would like to express their deep gratitude to Dr. K. Fukuda, Dr. V. Artysuk, Dr. K. Nikitin, Dr. H. Sagara, Dr. Y. Peryoga, Dr. Y. Meiliza, Dr. A. Ezoubtchenko, Dr. Y. Kimura, Dr. E. Hamase, Dr. C.Han, Dr. Y. Fiji, Dr. S. Koyama, Dr. M. Itoh, and Ms. M. Y. Sakarya for their technical contributions. Authors would like to place on record their highest appreciation for the English language editing and proofreading assistance provided by Ms. Kelley Holle Ragusa, Assistant Director of the Texas A&M Center for Nuclear Security Science and Policy Initiatives.

Funders	Funder number
Texas A&M Center for Nuclear Security Science and Policy Initiatives

Keywords

MARC model
Multiple-recycled Uranium
Proliferation Resistance
Reprocessed Uranium

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10.1016/j.anucene.2023.110187

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title = "Effects of multi-recycling of uranium reprocessed from spent nuclear fuel on the proliferation resistance of plutonium and uranium",

abstract = "The effects of re-enriching and multi-recycling reprocessed uranium (RepU) from the spent nuclear fuel of light water reactors on the proliferation resistance (PR) of Pu and U are studied. The presence of 236U and 238Pu enhances the PR of multi-recycled RepU. The 236U/235U ratio of RepU varies from 0.4 to 1.2, depending on the initial 235U enrichment and fuel burnup. 236U is co-enriched while re-enriching 235U in RepU. Based on the centrifuge enrichment data, the enrichment coefficient of 236U (α236), defined as 236U/235U ratio after and before enrichment, is 0.703, on average. The α236 value is utilized in a simple model to estimate the attainable maximum possible 235U enrichment for multi-recycled RepU. Estimations showed an increase in the PR of multi-recycled and re-enriched RepU, which was confirmed by matched-abundance ratio cascade model. The PR of Pu is enhanced in each recycle due to the increased production of 238Pu from 236U.",

keywords = "MARC model, Multiple-recycled Uranium, Proliferation Resistance, Reprocessed Uranium",

author = "Masaki Saito and Chirayath, {Sunil S.}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2023 Elsevier Ltd",

year = "2024",

month = jan,

doi = "10.1016/j.anucene.2023.110187",

language = "English",

volume = "195",

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AU - Saito, Masaki

AU - Chirayath, Sunil S.

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N2 - The effects of re-enriching and multi-recycling reprocessed uranium (RepU) from the spent nuclear fuel of light water reactors on the proliferation resistance (PR) of Pu and U are studied. The presence of 236U and 238Pu enhances the PR of multi-recycled RepU. The 236U/235U ratio of RepU varies from 0.4 to 1.2, depending on the initial 235U enrichment and fuel burnup. 236U is co-enriched while re-enriching 235U in RepU. Based on the centrifuge enrichment data, the enrichment coefficient of 236U (α236), defined as 236U/235U ratio after and before enrichment, is 0.703, on average. The α236 value is utilized in a simple model to estimate the attainable maximum possible 235U enrichment for multi-recycled RepU. Estimations showed an increase in the PR of multi-recycled and re-enriched RepU, which was confirmed by matched-abundance ratio cascade model. The PR of Pu is enhanced in each recycle due to the increased production of 238Pu from 236U.

AB - The effects of re-enriching and multi-recycling reprocessed uranium (RepU) from the spent nuclear fuel of light water reactors on the proliferation resistance (PR) of Pu and U are studied. The presence of 236U and 238Pu enhances the PR of multi-recycled RepU. The 236U/235U ratio of RepU varies from 0.4 to 1.2, depending on the initial 235U enrichment and fuel burnup. 236U is co-enriched while re-enriching 235U in RepU. Based on the centrifuge enrichment data, the enrichment coefficient of 236U (α236), defined as 236U/235U ratio after and before enrichment, is 0.703, on average. The α236 value is utilized in a simple model to estimate the attainable maximum possible 235U enrichment for multi-recycled RepU. Estimations showed an increase in the PR of multi-recycled and re-enriched RepU, which was confirmed by matched-abundance ratio cascade model. The PR of Pu is enhanced in each recycle due to the increased production of 238Pu from 236U.

KW - MARC model

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KW - Reprocessed Uranium

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Effects of multi-recycling of uranium reprocessed from spent nuclear fuel on the proliferation resistance of plutonium and uranium

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Keywords

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