RADIOACTIVE-WASTE TRANSMUTATION AND SAFETY POTENTIALS OF THE LEAD COOLED FAST-REACTOR IN THE EQUILIBRIUM STATE

The studies performed on a two-dimensional reactor model with burnup a nd fuel management simulation prove that the lead cooled fast reactor concept provides the possibility to develop critical equilibrium react or confining all of the self-produced transuraniums and long-lived fis sion products in the core. Such inherent safety features of the refere nce, non-confining lead cooled reactor design as negative void reactiv ity effect and 'zero' burnup reactivity swing may also be provided for equilibrium confining design by implementing the design approaches de scribed in this paper.