Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, 2000
There is a growing interest in using Am as a nuclear fuel. The advantages of Am as a nuclear fuel... more There is a growing interest in using Am as a nuclear fuel. The advantages of Am as a nuclear fuel derive from the fact that Am has the highest thermal "ssion cross section. The thermal capture cross section is relatively low and the number of neutrons per thermal "ssion is high. These nuclear properties make it possible to obtain nuclear criticality with ultra-thin fuel elements. The possibility of having ultra-thin fuel elements enables the use of these "ssion products directly, without the necessity of converting their energy to heat, as is done in conventional reactors. There are three options of using such highly energetic and highly ionized "ssion products.
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Papers by E. Shwageraus
In this framework, innovative gas-cooled reactors (both thermal and fast) seem to be very attractive fromthe electricity production point of view and for the potential industrial use along the high temperature processes (e.g., H2 production by steam reforming or I-S process). This work focuses on a preliminary (and conservative) evaluation of possible advantages that a symbiotic cycle (EPR-PBMR-
GCFR) could entail, with special regard to the reduction of the HLW inventory and the optimization of the exploitation of
the fuel resources. The comparison between the symbiotic cycle chosen and the reference one (once-through scenario, i.e., EPR SNF directly disposed) shows a reduction of the time needed to reach a fixed reference level from ∼170000 years to ∼1550 years
(comparable with typical human times and for this reason more acceptable by the public opinion). In addition, this cycle enables
to have a more efficient use of resources involved: the total electric energy produced becomes equal to ∼630TWh/year (instead of only ∼530 TWh/year using only EPR) without consuming additional raw materials.
In this framework, innovative gas-cooled reactors (both thermal and fast) seem to be very attractive fromthe electricity production point of view and for the potential industrial use along the high temperature processes (e.g., H2 production by steam reforming or I-S process). This work focuses on a preliminary (and conservative) evaluation of possible advantages that a symbiotic cycle (EPR-PBMR-
GCFR) could entail, with special regard to the reduction of the HLW inventory and the optimization of the exploitation of
the fuel resources. The comparison between the symbiotic cycle chosen and the reference one (once-through scenario, i.e., EPR SNF directly disposed) shows a reduction of the time needed to reach a fixed reference level from ∼170000 years to ∼1550 years
(comparable with typical human times and for this reason more acceptable by the public opinion). In addition, this cycle enables
to have a more efficient use of resources involved: the total electric energy produced becomes equal to ∼630TWh/year (instead of only ∼530 TWh/year using only EPR) without consuming additional raw materials.