ORNL-5388 - the Molten Salt Energy Technologies Web Site

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CONTENTS
PREFACE AND ACKNOWLEDGMENTS .......................................................
ABSTRACT ..........................................................................
1 . INTRODUCTION : BACKGROUND .....................................................
2 . RATIONALE FOR DENATURED FUEL CYCLES ...........................................
2.0. Introduction ............................................................
2.1. International Plutonium Economy .........................................
2.2. The Denatured 233U Fuel Cycle ...........................................
2.3. Some Institutional Considerations for the Denatured Fuel Cycle ..........
3 .
4 .
ISOTOPIC CHARACTERISTICS OF DENATURED 233U FUEL ...............................
3.0. Introduction ............................................................
3.1. Estimated 232U Concentrations in Denatured 233U Fuels ...................
3.1.1. Light-Water Reactor Fuels .......................................
3.1.2. High-Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactor Fuels .......................
3.1.3. Liquid-Metal Fast Breeder Reactor Fuels .........................
3.1.4. Conclusions .....................................................
3.2. Radiological Hazards of Denatured Fuel Isotopes .........................
3.2.1. Toxicity of 233U and 232U .......................................
3.2.2. Toxicity of 232Th ...............................................
3.2.3. Hazards Related to Gama-Ray Emissions ..........................
3.2.4. Conclusions .....................................................
3.3. Isotopics Impacting Fuel Safeguards Considerations ......................
3.3.1. Enrichment Criteria for Denatured Fuel ..........................
3.3.2. Fabrication and Handling of Denatured Fuel ......................
3.3.3. Detection and Assay of Denatured Fuel ...........................
3.3.4. Potential Circumvention of Isotopic Barrier
of Denatured Fuel ...............................................
3.3.5. Deterrence Value of 232U Contamination in Denatured Fuel ........
IMPACT OF DENATURED 233U FUEL ON REACTOR PERFORMANCE ..........................
4.0. Introduction ............................................................
4.1. Light-Water Reactors ....................................................
4.1 . 1. Pressurized Water Reactors ......................................
4.1.2. Boiling Water Reactors ..........................................
4.2. Spectral-Shift-Control1 ed Reactors ......................................
4.3. Heavy-Water Reactors ....................................................
. 4.4. Gas-Cooled Thermal Reactors ...................... .,. .....................
4.4.1. High-Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactors ............................
4.4.2. Pebble-Bed High-Temperature Reactors ............................
4.5. Liquid-Metal Fast Breeder Reactors ......................................
4.6. A1 ternate Fast Reactors .................................................
4.6.1. Advanced Oxide-Fueled LMFBRs ....................................
4.6.2. Carbide- and Metal -Fueled LMFBRs ................................
4.6.3. Gas-Cooled Fast Breeder Reactors ................................
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