Burnup dynamics and reactivity change in proton induced Tc-99 transmutation fuel assembly

IF 2.6 3区工程技术 Q1 NUCLEAR SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Nuclear Engineering and Technology Pub Date : 2025-02-03 DOI:10.1016/j.net.2025.103520

Chang M. Kang , Youngin Kim

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Neutron transmutation presents a viable method for the management and disposal of long-lived fission products. A newly published method describes a transmutation system that utilizes proton spallation in conjunction with a subcritical fuel assembly. This innovative approach has demonstrated the ability to reduce the transmutation half-life of technetium-99 (Tc-99) to less than one year. This study investigates the impact of Tc-99 concentrations on the subcriticality of the transmutation device during burnup using the Serpent 2 Monte Carlo neutron transport code. The burnup simulation demonstrates that (1) The number densities of U-235 and Tc-99 decrease steadily across all cases as burnup extends up to 600 days, (2) k_eff decreases steadily and remains below 1.0 after 600 days of burnup. Specifically, k_eff is below 0.7 in UO₂ fuels and below 0.1 in UF₄ fuels after 600 days. These findings provide valuable insights into optimizing and ensuring the safety of the transmutation device.

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来源期刊

Nuclear Engineering and Technology 工程技术-核科学技术

CiteScore

4.80

自引率

7.40%

发文量

431

审稿时长

3.5 months

期刊介绍： Nuclear Engineering and Technology (NET), an international journal of the Korean Nuclear Society (KNS), publishes peer-reviewed papers on original research, ideas and developments in all areas of the field of nuclear science and technology. NET bimonthly publishes original articles, reviews, and technical notes. The journal is listed in the Science Citation Index Expanded (SCIE) of Thomson Reuters. NET covers all fields for peaceful utilization of nuclear energy and radiation as follows: 1) Reactor Physics 2) Thermal Hydraulics 3) Nuclear Safety 4) Nuclear I&C 5) Nuclear Physics, Fusion, and Laser Technology 6) Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Radioactive Waste Management 7) Nuclear Fuel and Reactor Materials 8) Radiation Application 9) Radiation Protection 10) Nuclear Structural Analysis and Plant Management & Maintenance 11) Nuclear Policy, Economics, and Human Resource Development