Mixed-oxide fuels testing in the advanced test reactor

A report recently issued by the National Academy of Sciences describes the need to dispose of 50 metric tons of U.S. weapons-grade plutonium and a similar amount from Russia and makes recommendations for means of disposal. One principal recommendation is to use the plutonium as once-through fuel in existing commercial U.S. light water reactors (LWRs). The report states that a coordinated program of research and development should be undertaken immediately to clarify and resolve the identified technical uncertainties. This paper presents a solution to one needed program: reactor testing of mixed-oxide (MOX) fuels. Currently, weapons-grade plutonium MOX and other types of advanced plutonium-based fuels are being considered as a disposition fuel form. The proposed weapons-grade MOX fuel is unusual, even relative to ongoing foreign experience with reactor-grade MOX power reactor fuel. Some demonstration of the in-reactor thermal, mechanical, and fission gas release behavior of a prototype fuel will most likely be required in a limited number of test reactor irradiations.