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Possibility assessment for production of non-traditional nuclear fuel in thorium blanket of hybrid thermonuclear reactor
- Source :
- Journal of Physics: Conference Series. 1689:012034
- Publication Year :
- 2020
- Publisher :
- IOP Publishing, 2020.
-
Abstract
- The paper aims at studying specific peculiarities in isotope composition of thorium blanket under irradiation by fusion neutron source (FNS) in hybrid thermonuclear reactor (HTR). High-energy (14 MeV) component of neutron spectrum in thorium HTR blanket results in production of non-traditional fissile mixture including not only233U, but also231Pa232U and 234U. Extraction of such non-traditional fuel from spent Th-blanket and its utilization in traditional nuclear power reactors could increase fuel burn-up and strengthen regime of nuclear non-proliferation. The detailed investigations of these positive effects require high-precision neutron-physical analyses of thorium HTR blanket. The results obtained in these investigations are presented in the paper. The following results were obtained: the chosen model of HTR allowed us to form high-energy neutron spectrum in Th-blanket with significant fraction of 14 MeV neutrons; it was evaluated that threshold (n,2n) and (n,3n)-reactions are able to produce significant amounts of non-traditional target isotopes231Pa and232U; it was shown that accumulation of non-traditional target isotopes weakened substantially in depth of Th-blanket. So, it seems reasonable to seek for optimal thickness of Th-blanket and, thus, to find optimal loading of natural thorium.
Details
- ISSN :
- 17426596 and 17426588
- Volume :
- 1689
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Journal of Physics: Conference Series
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi...........174b602a2c1ca4af7e4628cc6162b604