Abstract
The proliferation resistance (PR) of an inert matrix fuel (IMF) in the transuranic nuclear fuel cycle (NFC) of a high temperature gas cooled reactor is evaluated relative to the uranium and plutonium mixed-oxide (MOX) NFC of a light water reactor using PRAETOR code and sixty-eight input attributes. The objective is to determine the impacts of chemical stability of IMF and fuel irradiation on the PR. Specific material properties of the IMF, such as lower plutonium content, carbide ceramics coating, and absence of 235U, contribute to enhance its relative PR compared to MOX fuel. The overall PR value of the fresh IMF (an unirradiated direct use material with a one-month diversion detection timeliness goal) is nearly equal to that of the spent MOX fuel (an irradiated direct use nuclear material with a three-month diversion detection timeliness goal). Final results suggest a reduced safeguards inspection frequency to manage the IMF.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 107325 |
| Journal | Annals of Nuclear Energy |
| Volume | 141 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Jun 15 2020 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Funding
The authors would like to express their gratitude to Professor Masaki Saito at the Tokyo Institute of Technology for the travel support provided through the Academy for Global Nuclear Safety and Security Agents (U-ATOM) to Takeshi Aoki for his stay at Texas A&M University, USA to conduct the research reported in this paper. This research did not receive any other specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.
| Funders | Funder number |
|---|---|
| Academy for Global Nuclear Safety and Security Agents | |
| U-ATOM | |
| Tokyo Institute of Technology |
Keywords
- HTGR
- Plutonium safeguards
- Proliferation resistance
- Transuranic fuel cycle