High-value use of weapons-plutonium by burning in molten salt accelerator-driven subcritical systems or reactors

摘要

The application of thermal-spectrum molten-salt reactors and accelerator-driven subcritical systems to the destruction of weapons-return plutonium is considered from the perspective of deriving the maximum societal benefit. The enhancement of electric power production from burning the fertile fuel (sup 232)Th with the plutonium is evaluated. Also the enhancement of destruction of the accumulated waste from commercial nuclear reactors is considered using the neutron-rich weapons plutonium. Most cases examined include the concurrent transmutation of the long-lived actinide and fission product waste ((sup 99)Tc, (sup 129)I, (sup 135)Cs, (sup 126)Sn and (sup 79)Se).