ScholarLens Back to search
1979•Nuclear TechnologyRequires access

A Method for Refueling Light Water Reactors with Natural Uranium

Yigal Ronen

Open publisher page 0 citations

Abstract

Light water reactors can be refueled with natural uranium and plutonium. When the plutonium provides less than one-half of the fissions, the plutonium fissile inventory ratio will be greater than unity. Therefore, a self-sustained system is obtained. The burnup that can be obtained by this refueling method is ~4000 MWd/ton. A doubling of the fuel lifetime is obtained (~8000 MWd/ton) when the spectral shift control method is adopted.

About this research paper

What this paper is about

Light water reactors can be refueled with natural uranium and plutonium. When the plutonium provides less than one-half of the fissions, the plutonium fissile inventory ratio will be greater than unity. Therefore, a self-sustained system is obtained. The burnup that can be obtained by this refueling method is ~4000 MWd/ton. A doubling of the fuel lifetime is obtained (~8000 MWd/ton) when the spectral shift control method is adopted.

Why it matters

A significance statement is not available in the OpenAlex record.

Key contribution

A contribution statement is not available in the OpenAlex record.

Method / approach

Method details are not available in the OpenAlex metadata.

Main findings

Findings are not separately available in the OpenAlex metadata.

Limitations

Limitations are not available in the OpenAlex metadata.

Applications

Application details are not available in the OpenAlex metadata.

Available abstract

Light water reactors can be refueled with natural uranium and plutonium. When the plutonium provides less than one-half of the fissions, the plutonium fissile inventory ratio will be greater than unity. Therefore, a self-sustained system is obtained. The burnup that can be obtained by this refueling method is ~4000 MWd/ton. A doubling of the fuel lifetime is obtained (~8000 MWd/ton) when the spectral shift control method is adopted.

Key concepts: Plutonium, Fissile material, Natural uranium, Burnup, MOX fuel, Uranium, Nuclear engineering, Light-water reactor

Related papers

Related paper 1Related paper 2Related paper 3
Back to paper searchBrowse research topicsOriginal source
A Method for Refueling Light Water Reactors with Natural Uranium — Research Paper | ScholarLens