Plutonium Production Using Natural Uranium From the Front-End of the Nuclear Fuel Cycle

Parks, C.V.

Oak Ridge National Laboratory

关键词: Oxides;    11 Nuclear Fuel Cycle And Fuel Materials;    Production;    Nuclear Fuels;    Heavy Water;   

DOI  :  10.2172/814165
RP-ID  :  ORNL/TM-2002/118
RP-ID  :  AC05-00OR22725
RP-ID  :  814165

美国|英语

来源: UNT Digital Library

【 摘 要 】

This report explores the potential for producing weapons-grade plutonium using conventional industrial resources, oxides of natural uranium (namely UO{sub 3}), and either heavy water or reactor-grade graphite. Using established codes and data for nuclear analysis, it is demonstrated that physics-based reactor models capable of producing kilogram quantities of weapons-grade plutonium can be readily conceived. The basic assumptions and analysis approach are discussed together with the results of the analysis.