A Possibility for Large-Scale Production of <sup>238</sup>Pu in Light-Water Reactor VVER-1000
This paper considers the possibility for large-scale production of plutonium isotope <sup>238</sup>Pu in the light-water nuclear power reactor VVER-1000. <sup>238</sup>Pu is a unique source of long-term autonomous energy supply in various devices for remote regions of the Ear...
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MDPI AG
2022-10-01
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| Series: | Journal of Nuclear Engineering |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4362/3/4/15 |
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| author | Anatoly N. Shmelev Nikolay I. Geraskin Vladimir A. Apse Vasily B. Glebov Gennady G. Kulikov Evgeny G. Kulikov |
| author_facet | Anatoly N. Shmelev Nikolay I. Geraskin Vladimir A. Apse Vasily B. Glebov Gennady G. Kulikov Evgeny G. Kulikov |
| author_sort | Anatoly N. Shmelev |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This paper considers the possibility for large-scale production of plutonium isotope <sup>238</sup>Pu in the light-water nuclear power reactor VVER-1000. <sup>238</sup>Pu is a unique source of long-term autonomous energy supply in various devices for remote regions of the Earth and in outer space. The design of the irradiation device with <sup>237</sup>NpO<sub>2</sub> as a starting material is proposed, which is placed in the central zone of the VVER-1000 reactor core and makes it possible to achieve 8% of the specific Pu production (Pu/<sup>237</sup>Np) by optimizing the pitch of NpO<sub>2</sub>-rod lattice. The computations showed that the scale of <sup>238</sup>Pu production in the irradiation device was remarkably larger (2 ÷ 7 times more) than similar values in research reactors. At the same time, the use of heavy neutron moderators with low neutron absorption (natural lead or lead isotope <sup>208</sup>Pb) around the NpO<sub>2</sub> fuel assembly (FA) made it possible to obtain high-purity <sup>238</sup>Pu with the content of <sup>236</sup>Pu below 2 ppm. The paper also shows that if the irradiation device is placed in central zone of the VVER-1000 reactor core, then the displacement damage dose in the reactor vessel remains low enough to conserve its strength properties throughout the entire period of the reactor operation (60 years). |
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| id | doaj.art-78a43855a21640c39cb4390b2ee9f885 |
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| issn | 2673-4362 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T16:13:56Z |
| publishDate | 2022-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Nuclear Engineering |
| spelling | doaj.art-78a43855a21640c39cb4390b2ee9f8852023-11-24T15:58:37ZengMDPI AGJournal of Nuclear Engineering2673-43622022-10-013426327610.3390/jne3040015A Possibility for Large-Scale Production of <sup>238</sup>Pu in Light-Water Reactor VVER-1000Anatoly N. Shmelev0Nikolay I. Geraskin1Vladimir A. Apse2Vasily B. Glebov3Gennady G. Kulikov4Evgeny G. Kulikov5Institute of Nuclear Physics and Engineering, National Research Nuclear University MEPhI, Kashirskoe Shosse, 31, 115409 Moscow, RussiaInstitute of Nuclear Physics and Engineering, National Research Nuclear University MEPhI, Kashirskoe Shosse, 31, 115409 Moscow, RussiaInstitute of Nuclear Physics and Engineering, National Research Nuclear University MEPhI, Kashirskoe Shosse, 31, 115409 Moscow, RussiaInstitute of Nuclear Physics and Engineering, National Research Nuclear University MEPhI, Kashirskoe Shosse, 31, 115409 Moscow, RussiaInstitute of Nuclear Physics and Engineering, National Research Nuclear University MEPhI, Kashirskoe Shosse, 31, 115409 Moscow, RussiaInstitute of Nuclear Physics and Engineering, National Research Nuclear University MEPhI, Kashirskoe Shosse, 31, 115409 Moscow, RussiaThis paper considers the possibility for large-scale production of plutonium isotope <sup>238</sup>Pu in the light-water nuclear power reactor VVER-1000. <sup>238</sup>Pu is a unique source of long-term autonomous energy supply in various devices for remote regions of the Earth and in outer space. The design of the irradiation device with <sup>237</sup>NpO<sub>2</sub> as a starting material is proposed, which is placed in the central zone of the VVER-1000 reactor core and makes it possible to achieve 8% of the specific Pu production (Pu/<sup>237</sup>Np) by optimizing the pitch of NpO<sub>2</sub>-rod lattice. The computations showed that the scale of <sup>238</sup>Pu production in the irradiation device was remarkably larger (2 ÷ 7 times more) than similar values in research reactors. At the same time, the use of heavy neutron moderators with low neutron absorption (natural lead or lead isotope <sup>208</sup>Pb) around the NpO<sub>2</sub> fuel assembly (FA) made it possible to obtain high-purity <sup>238</sup>Pu with the content of <sup>236</sup>Pu below 2 ppm. The paper also shows that if the irradiation device is placed in central zone of the VVER-1000 reactor core, then the displacement damage dose in the reactor vessel remains low enough to conserve its strength properties throughout the entire period of the reactor operation (60 years).https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4362/3/4/15neptunium isotope <sup>237</sup>Npirradiation devicenuclear power reactor VVER-1000high-purity <sup>238</sup>Pudisplacement damage dose |
| spellingShingle | Anatoly N. Shmelev Nikolay I. Geraskin Vladimir A. Apse Vasily B. Glebov Gennady G. Kulikov Evgeny G. Kulikov A Possibility for Large-Scale Production of <sup>238</sup>Pu in Light-Water Reactor VVER-1000 Journal of Nuclear Engineering neptunium isotope <sup>237</sup>Np irradiation device nuclear power reactor VVER-1000 high-purity <sup>238</sup>Pu displacement damage dose |
| title | A Possibility for Large-Scale Production of <sup>238</sup>Pu in Light-Water Reactor VVER-1000 |
| title_full | A Possibility for Large-Scale Production of <sup>238</sup>Pu in Light-Water Reactor VVER-1000 |
| title_fullStr | A Possibility for Large-Scale Production of <sup>238</sup>Pu in Light-Water Reactor VVER-1000 |
| title_full_unstemmed | A Possibility for Large-Scale Production of <sup>238</sup>Pu in Light-Water Reactor VVER-1000 |
| title_short | A Possibility for Large-Scale Production of <sup>238</sup>Pu in Light-Water Reactor VVER-1000 |
| title_sort | possibility for large scale production of sup 238 sup pu in light water reactor vver 1000 |
| topic | neptunium isotope <sup>237</sup>Np irradiation device nuclear power reactor VVER-1000 high-purity <sup>238</sup>Pu displacement damage dose |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4362/3/4/15 |
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