Heterogeneous burning of americium and neptunium in the core of a BN-1200 reactor

Abstract

The article presents a concept of an option for heterogeneous burning of americium and neptunium in the core of a BN-1200 reactor. The option was developed based on the design layout of the BN-1200 core with mixed uranium-plutonium fuel and an axial blanket with 20% of fuel assemblies replaced by burning ones with actinides and inert filler evenly distributed in the active part. Americium, neptunium or their mixtures can be located in burning assemblies. Burning of americium supposes the annual transmutation volume of ~100 kg. The advantages of the considered disposal method are its high intensity and possibility of localizing actinides in separate burning assemblies. The disadvantages include a significant deterioration in the operational characteristics of the core due to the increased fuel rating and high rate of reactivity loss for burnup.