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Conference Article: Fuel cycle related-parametric study considering long-lived actinide production, decay heat and fuel cycle performances

Abstract

One of the very attractive HTGR reactor characteristics is its highly versatile and flexible core that can fulfil a wide range of diverse fuel cycles. Based on a GTMHR-600 MWth reactor, analyses of several fuel cycles were carried out without taking into account common fuel particle performance limits (burnup, fast fluence, temperature). These values are, however, indicated in each case. Fuel derived from uranium, thorium and a wide variety of plutonium grades has been considered. Long-lived actinide production and total residual decay heat were evaluated for the various types of fuel. The results presented in this papers provide a comparison of the potential and limits of each fuel cycle and allow to define specific cycles offering lowest actinide production and residual heat associated with a long life cycle.

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Reference:

Proceedings of a Technical Committee Meeting held in Beijing, People's Republic of China, 2-4 November 1998

International Atomic Energy Agency, International Working Group on Gas-Cooled Reactors, Vienna (Austria)

IAEA-TECDOC--1210, pp:53-65