APPLICABILITY EVALUATION TO A MOX FUELED FAST BREEDER REACTOR FOR A SELF-CONSISTENT NUCLEAR-ENERGY SYSTEM

The potential for a MOX fueled fast breeder reactor (FBR) is evaluated with regard to its ability to transmute radioactive nuclides and its safety when incorporated in a self-consistent nuclear energy system (S CNES). The FBR's annual production amounts of selected long-lived fiss ion products LLFPs), Se-79, Tc-99, Pd-107, I-129, Cs-135 and Sm-151, c an be transmuted by using a two layer radial blanket region without a significant impact on core nuclear and safety characteristics. The oth er LLFPs are confined in the system. The hazard index level of the LLF Ps per one ton of spent fuel from the system after 10(2) years is as s mall as that of a typical uranium ore. Regarding self-controllability in the system's safety, the proposed FBR core concept has an inherent negative reactivity feedback with a gas expansion module, sodium plenu m above the core and burnup reactivity compensation module. So sodium boiling and fuel melting will be avoided in anticipated transient with out scram events. Regarding self-terminability, even if the MOX fuel m elting should cause a core compaction process, re-criticality of the c ore can be avoided by a fuel dilution and relocation module. The study shows the MOX fueled FBR core has potential applicability to the SCNE S. (C) 1997 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.