Monte Carlo calculations of the incineration of plutonium and minor actinides of laser fusion inertial confinement fusion fission energy (LIFE) engine
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Date
2018
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Abstract
In this paper, neutronic analysis in a laser fusion inertial confinement fusion fission energy (LIFE) engine fuelled plutonium and minor actinides using a MCNP codes was investigated. LIFE engine fuel zone contained 10 vol% TRISO particles and 90 vol% natural lithium coolant mixture. TRISO fuel compositions have Mod: reactor grade plutonium (RG-Pu), Mod: weapon grade plutonium (WG-Pu) and Mod: minor actinides (MAs). Tritium breeding ratios (TBR) were computed as 1.52, 1.62 and 1.46 for Mod, Mod and Mod, respectively. The operation period was computed as ∼21 years when the reference TBR > 1.05 for a self-sustained reactor for all investigated cases. Blanket energy multiplication values (M) were calculated as 4.18, 4.95 and 3.75 for Mod, Mod and Mod, respectively. The burnup (BU) values were obtained as ∼1230, ∼1550 and ∼1060 GWd tM-1, respectively. As a result, the higher BU were provided with using TRISO particles for all cases in LIFE engine. © 2018 Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences and IOP Publishing.