The use of MOX caramel fuel mixed with Am-241, Am-242m and Am-243 as burnable absorber actinides for the MTR research reactors

摘要

The MOX (UO2 & PuO2) caramel fuel mixed with Am-241, Am-242m and Am-243 as burnable absorber actinides was proposed as a fuel of the MTR-22 MW reactor. The MCNP4C code was used to simulate the MTR-22 MW reactor and estimate the criticality and the neutronic parameters, and the power peaking factors before and after replacing its original fuel (U3O8-Al) by the MOX caramel fuel mixed with (241)AM, (242m)AM and Am-243 actinides. The obtained results of the criticality, the neutronic parameters, and the power peaking factors for the MOX caramel fuel mixed with Am-241, (242m)AM and (243)AM actinides were compared with the same parameters of the U3O8-Al original fuel and a maximum difference is -6.18% was found. Additionally, by recycling 2.65% and 2.71% plutonium and Am-241, Am-242m and (243)Arn actinides in the MTR-22 MW reactor, the level of U-235 enrichment is reduced from 4.48% to 3% and 2.8%, respectively. This also results in the reduction of the U-235 loading by 32.75% and 37.22% for the 2.65%, the 2.71% plutonium and Am-241, Am-242m and Am-243 actinides, respectively.