A HIGH CONVERTER CONCEPT FOR FUEL MANAGEMENT WITH BLANKET FUEL ASSEMBLIES IN BOILING WATER REACTORS

摘要

Studies on the natural Uranium saving and waste reduction potential of a multiple-plant BWR system were performed. The BWR High Converter system should enable a multiple recycling of M0X fuel in current BWR plants by introducing blanket fuel assemblies and burning Uranium and M0X fuel separately. The feasibility of Uranium cores with blankets and full-MOX cores with Plutonium qualities as low as 40% were studied. The power concentration due to blanket insertion is manageable with modern fuel and acceptable values for the thermal limits and reactivity coefficients were obtained. While challenges remain, full-MOX cores also complied with the main design criteria. The combination of Uranium and Plutonium burners in appropriate proportions could enable obtaining as much as 40% more energy out of Uranium ore. Moreover, a proper adjustment of blanket average stay and Plutonium qualities could lead to a system with nearly no Plutonium left for final disposal. The achievement of such goals with current light water technology makes the BWRHC concept an attractive option to improve the fuel cycle until Gen-IV designs are mature.