Method for utilizing contaminated fractions of reprocessed uranium enrichment in double cascade schemes

Abstract

Background

Increasing the efficiency of using reprocessed uranium can partially solve the problems of resource availability for thermal neutron power reactors, as well as the continuous accumulation of spent nuclear fuel.

Aim

To develop a method for including the double cascade subproduct in the production of nuclear fuel without additional costs for separative work by replacing part of the natural uranium in producing low-enriched uranium for thermal neutron reactors.

Materials and methods

The possibility of involving the subproduct of a modified double cascade for enrichment of reprocessed uranium in the production of nuclear fuel is considered. A method is proposed for including the subproduct of such a double cascade in the production of nuclear fuel.

Results

The study demonstrates this method saving natural uranium by 4.3% compared to the same cascade without using the light fraction flow.

Conclusion

The proposed method increases the proportion of ²³⁵ U returned to the fuel cycle and provides additional combined savings of natural uranium and costs of separative work compared to an open nuclear fuel cycle.