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ADS | sub-critical fast reactors driven by a proton accelerator |
ALMR | fast-spectrum advanced liquid metal-cooled reactors |
Am | americium |
BU | Lattice burnup |
Cm | curium |
DGR | Deep Geological Repository |
ELESTRES | updated analysis codes [CBM2021 55, 56] |
ENDF/B-VII.0 | 89-group nuclear data library [CBM2021 48] |
FTC | fuel temperature coefficient |
HFR | High Flux Reactor |
HLW | high level radioactive waste |
k-infinity | infinite neutron multiplication factor |
LER | maximum linear element rating |
LLFPs | long-lived fission products |
LOCA | transient LOCA event |
LWRS | conventional thermal-spectrum reactors (incl PWRs and BWRs) |
PT-HWR | pressure tube heavy water reactor |
RFSP 3.5.1 | Time-average equilibrium core physics & refuel two-group, 3D (x,y,z) diffusion code [CBM2021 51] |
SERPENT | alternative lattice physics code and associated nuclear data set [CBM2021 46] |
TRU | transuranic elements = Np + Pu + Am + Cm, Am + Cm, or just Am |
WIMS-AECL Version 3.1 | Lattice physics modeling [CBM2021 47] |
WIMS-AECL WIMS Utilities Version 2.0 | Lattice physics data [CBM2021 50] |
ADS | sub-critical fast reactors driven by a proton accelerator |
ALMR | fast-spectrum advanced liquid metal-cooled reactors |
Am | americium |
BU | Lattice burnup |
Cm | curium |
DGR | Deep Geological Repository |
ELESTRES | updated analysis codes [CBM2021 55, 56] |
ENDF/B-VII.0 | 89-group nuclear data library [CBM2021 48] |
FTC | fuel temperature coefficient |
HFR | High Flux Reactor |
HLW | high level radioactive waste |
k-infinity | infinite neutron multiplication factor |
LER | maximum linear element rating |
LLFPs | long-lived fission products |
LOCA | transient LOCA event |
LWRS | conventional thermal-spectrum reactors (incl PWRs and BWRs) |
PT-HWR | pressure tube heavy water reactor |
RFSP 3.5.1 | Time-average equilibrium core physics & refuel two-group, 3D (x,y,z) diffusion code [CBM2021 51] |
SERPENT | alternative lattice physics code and associated nuclear data set [CBM2021 46] |
TRU | transuranic elements = Np + Pu + Am + Cm, Am + Cm, or just Am |
WIMS-AECL Version 3.1 | Lattice physics modeling [CBM2021 47] |
WIMS-AECL WIMS Utilities Version 2.0 | Lattice physics data [CBM2021 50] |
Actinide | Half Life (years) | Dominant Decay Mode |
Years to Decay naturally to 1.0×10^-4 n/cm^2/s *_ | Thermal σ_absorb (barns) | Thermal σ_fission (barns) | Fission Spectrum σ_fission (barns) |
Years to Reduce to 1.0×10^-4 n/cm^2/s with 1.0×10^+14 n/cm^2/s Neutron Flux ** |
Flux to Reduce to 1.0×10^-4 n/cm^2/s within 100 years ** |
Np-236 | 154,000 | EC to U-236*** | 2,046,742 | 3073.9 | 2,453 | 1.92 | 1.0 | 9.50E+11 |
Np-237 | 2,144,000 | Alpha to Pa-233 | 28,494,906 | 144 | 0.019 | 1.34 | 20.3 | 2.03E+13 |
Pu-238 | 87.7 | Alpha to U-234 | 1,166 | 473.2 | 15.18 | 1.99 | 6.1 | 5.64e+12 |
Pu-240 | 6564 | Alpha to U-236 | 87,239 | 263.7 | 0.053 | 1.36 | 11.1 | 1.11e+13 |
Pu-242 | 373,300 | Alpha to U-238 | 4,961,357 | 16.8 | 0.0023 | 1.13 | 173.6 | 1.74e+14 |
Am-241 | 432 | Alpha to Np-237 | 5,744 | 534.7 | 2.711 | 1.38 | 5.5 | 5.37e+12 |
Am-242m | 141 | IT to Am-242*** | 1,874 | 7460. | 6235 | 1.84 | 0.4 | 3.71e+11 |
Am-243 | 7,370 | Alpha to Np-239 | 97,951 | 70.6 | 0.103 | 1.08 | 41.4 | 4.13e+13 |
Cm-243 | 29 | Alpha to Pu-239 | 387 | 662.8 | 549.6 | 1.94 | 4.4 | 3.27e+12 |
Cm-244 | 18 | Alpha to Pu-240 | 241 | 14.3 | 0.906 | 1.57 | 110.6 | 1.2e+14 |
Cm-245 | 8,500 | Alpha to Pu-241 | 112,970 | 1961.4 | 1674 | 1.74 | 1.5 | 1.49e+12 |
Cm-246 | 4,760 | Alpha to Pu-242 | 63,263 | 1.3 | 0.124 | 1.23 | 2212 | 2.29e+15 |
Cm-247 | 15,600,00 00 | Alpha to Pu-243 | 207,332,337 | 121. | 70.8 | 1.91 | 24.1 | 2.41e+13 |
Cm-248 | 348,000 | Alpha to Pu-244 | 4,625,106 | 2.6 | 0.328 | 1.25 | 1,118 | 1.12E+15 |
Are [Am, Cm] already present in the feed fuel at very low levels, or are they produced
during PT-HWR operation, either from the fuel or reactor materials of construction? The paper addresses the following issues after the introductory part : What are the comparative costs associated with :
| |
p02h0.45 | Abstract "The potential to achieve net zero production of Am and Cm in a single thermal-spectrum reactor, such as a PT-HWR, could help eliminate the need to build and qualify a Deep Geological Repository (D |
p03h0.40 |
Introduction "Long-term isolation and storage of MAs in a
Deep Geological Repository (DGR) to ensure the protection of the environment for millions of years is considered scientifically and technologically feasible [1], [2]. However, it may be preferable to separate and destroy Am and Cm through direct fission, or transmutation into fissile isotopes by neutron capture, followed by fission." Howell: Bernie Gorsky of NRCan/CANMET Mining in Ottawa (the divisions and branches have changed names a lot) did testing of core samples for DGRs. I was ignorant of the problems, but he took time to get me to realise that every time you create an openeing in rock formations, there is wall damage. Natural processes can also do that. As I understood it >10-20 years ago, the thinking was to store material in sturdy containers in DGRs, so that it could be removed perhaps decades later for reprocessing, or moving to a better site. Getting rid of it is nice if affordable - my occasional excursions into themes of history suggest that [political systems, societies] don't last forever either (normally, perhaps more like decades to a couple of centuries?). |
p04h0.00 |
Table I Expected Time Scales and Thermal Neutron Fluxes Required to
Destroy MAs and non-Fissile Isotopes of Pu Howell: The last 2 columns are very interesting, however during first reading I had no idea if the fluxes are "reasonable". With later reading: Section I.A p05h1.0 of the paper addresses this : the "set" neutron flux of 10^(+14) n/cm^2/s is typical for current reactors. |
p10 | |
p42h0.00 |
"Using the mass inventory data based on the lattice physics data, and the refueling rates based on core physics calculations, estimates were obtained for the net consumption rate of MAs in the 60 blanket channels and the net production rate of MAs in the 320 seed channels. ... If the production of other actinides (Howell: besides Am, Cm]) in the blanket channels are taken into account, such as Np, and also the plutonium, which has higher fractions of Pu-238 (up to 70 wt% for CC-MA-04), Pu-240 (up to 80 wt% for CC-MA-07) and Pu-242 (up to 19 wt% for CC-MA-03), then 90 to 121 channels of AmO 2 -based blanket fuel, and 18 channels of CmO 2 -based blanket fuel would be needed to achieve net zero production of MAs (if the Pu in the spent blanket bundles were treated as MAs as well). These estimates neglect the production of Pu in the seed fuel, which has a relatively low content of Pu-238 (~0.1 wt%) and Pu-242 (~1.5 wt%), and which could be recycled and consumed in (Pu,Th)O2 fuel bundles, as demonstrated in previous studies [4]." Howell: ??? |
p42h0.25 |
"spent fuel is likely to be stored for at least 10 years before attempting to extract and recycle MAs" Howell: ouch - what are secondary materials contamination issues like for this? which processes? : [crush-grind-float, roast, [acid, base, oxidize, reduce] leach, volatilize [Cl, F], ion exchange, solvent extraction, gas diffusion, centrifuge, precipitate, filter, sinter, ???] |
Actinide | Half Life (years) | Dominant Decay Mode |
Years to Decay naturally to 1.0×10^-4 n/cm^2/s *_ | Thermal σ_absorb (barns) | Thermal σ_fission (barns) | Fission Spectrum σ_fission (barns) |
Years to Reduce to 1.0×10^-4 n/cm^2/s with 1.0×10^+14 n/cm^2/s Neutron Flux ** |
Flux to Reduce to 1.0×10^-4 n/cm^2/s within 100 years ** |
Np-236 | 154,000 | EC to U-236*** | 2,046,742 | 3073.9 | 2,453 | 1.92 | 1.0 | 9.50E+11 |
Np-237 | 2,144,000 | Alpha to Pa-233 | 28,494,906 | 144 | 0.019 | 1.34 | 20.3 | 2.03E+13 |
Pu-238 | 87.7 | Alpha to U-234 | 1,166 | 473.2 | 15.18 | 1.99 | 6.1 | 5.64e+12 |
Pu-240 | 6564 | Alpha to U-236 | 87,239 | 263.7 | 0.053 | 1.36 | 11.1 | 1.11e+13 |
Pu-242 | 373,300 | Alpha to U-238 | 4,961,357 | 16.8 | 0.0023 | 1.13 | 173.6 | 1.74e+14 |
Am-241 | 432 | Alpha to Np-237 | 5,744 | 534.7 | 2.711 | 1.38 | 5.5 | 5.37e+12 |
Am-242m | 141 | IT to Am-242*** | 1,874 | 7460. | 6235 | 1.84 | 0.4 | 3.71e+11 |
Am-243 | 7,370 | Alpha to Np-239 | 97,951 | 70.6 | 0.103 | 1.08 | 41.4 | 4.13e+13 |
Cm-243 | 29 | Alpha to Pu-239 | 387 | 662.8 | 549.6 | 1.94 | 4.4 | 3.27e+12 |
Cm-244 | 18 | Alpha to Pu-240 | 241 | 14.3 | 0.906 | 1.57 | 110.6 | 1.2e+14 |
Cm-245 | 8,500 | Alpha to Pu-241 | 112,970 | 1961.4 | 1674 | 1.74 | 1.5 | 1.49e+12 |
Cm-246 | 4,760 | Alpha to Pu-242 | 63,263 | 1.3 | 0.124 | 1.23 | 2212 | 2.29e+15 |
Cm-247 | 15,600,00 00 | Alpha to Pu-243 | 207,332,337 | 121. | 70.8 | 1.91 | 24.1 | 2.41e+13 |
Cm-248 | 348,000 | Alpha to Pu-244 | 4,625,106 | 2.6 | 0.328 | 1.25 | 1,118 | 1.12E+15 |
Are [Am, Cm] already present in the feed fuel at very low levels, or are they produced
during PT-HWR operation, either from the fuel or reactor materials of construction? The paper addresses the following issues after the introductory part : What are the comparative costs associated with :
| |
p02h0.45 | Abstract "The potential to achieve net zero production of Am and Cm in a single thermal-spectrum reactor, such as a PT-HWR, could help eliminate the need to build and qualify a Deep Geological Repository (D |
p03h0.40 |
Introduction "Long-term isolation and storage of MAs in a
Deep Geological Repository (DGR) to ensure the protection of the environment for millions of years is considered scientifically and technologically feasible [1], [2]. However, it may be preferable to separate and destroy Am and Cm through direct fission, or transmutation into fissile isotopes by neutron capture, followed by fission." Howell: Bernie Gorsky of NRCan/CANMET Mining in Ottawa (the divisions and branches have changed names a lot) did testing of core samples for DGRs. I was ignorant of the problems, but he took time to get me to realise that every time you create an openeing in rock formations, there is wall damage. Natural processes can also do that. As I understood it >10-20 years ago, the thinking was to store material in sturdy containers in DGRs, so that it could be removed perhaps decades later for reprocessing, or moving to a better site. Getting rid of it is nice if affordable - my occasional excursions into themes of history suggest that [political systems, societies] don't last forever either (normally, perhaps more like decades to a couple of centuries?). |
p04h0.00 |
Table I Expected Time Scales and Thermal Neutron Fluxes Required to
Destroy MAs and non-Fissile Isotopes of Pu Howell: The last 2 columns are very interesting, however during first reading I had no idea if the fluxes are "reasonable". With later reading: Section I.A p05h1.0 of the paper addresses this : the "set" neutron flux of 10^(+14) n/cm^2/s is typical for current reactors. |
p10 | |
p42h0.00 |
"Using the mass inventory data based on the lattice physics data, and the refueling rates based on core physics calculations, estimates were obtained for the net consumption rate of MAs in the 60 blanket channels and the net production rate of MAs in the 320 seed channels. ... If the production of other actinides (Howell: besides Am, Cm]) in the blanket channels are taken into account, such as Np, and also the plutonium, which has higher fractions of Pu-238 (up to 70 wt% for CC-MA-04), Pu-240 (up to 80 wt% for CC-MA-07) and Pu-242 (up to 19 wt% for CC-MA-03), then 90 to 121 channels of AmO 2 -based blanket fuel, and 18 channels of CmO 2 -based blanket fuel would be needed to achieve net zero production of MAs (if the Pu in the spent blanket bundles were treated as MAs as well). These estimates neglect the production of Pu in the seed fuel, which has a relatively low content of Pu-238 (~0.1 wt%) and Pu-242 (~1.5 wt%), and which could be recycled and consumed in (Pu,Th)O2 fuel bundles, as demonstrated in previous studies [4]." Howell: ??? |
p42h0.25 |
"spent fuel is likely to be stored for at least 10 years before attempting to extract and recycle MAs" Howell: ouch - what are secondary materials contamination issues like for this? which processes? : [crush-grind-float, roast, [acid, base, oxidize, reduce] leach, volatilize [Cl, F], ion exchange, solvent extraction, gas diffusion, centrifuge, precipitate, filter, sinter, ???] |