NEUTRON-PHYSICAL VALIDATION OF Np, Am, AND Cm TRANSMUTATION

摘要

The transmutation of Np and Am is a complex problem of the physics of fast reactors, fabrication technologies, logistics and reprocessing of fuel. The optimal solution must be found by combined optimization of all stages of the NFC. The most attractive neutron-physical aspect studied is homogeneous transmutation, for which the radiative neutron capture reactions supplement the process of incineration and conversion into the products of fission of the base isotopes of neptunium and americium with breeding of fuel components. Curium isotopes are not subject to recycling; they are allowed to fully decay into plutonium isotopes. Heterogeneous transmutation is more difficult to implement, but even here the incineration should be harmonized with breeding by picking fuel components. The transmutation of Np, Am, and Cm has been demonstrated at the level of samples in BN-350. It is extremely important to obtain additional data on the isotopic kinetics with deeper burnup as well as new experiments designed to study their influence on reactivity effects and coefficients.