Making Research Paper

Abstract

This study proposes to introduce a fusion reactor with an MA transmutation system into the nuclear fuel cycle. In this study, the effects of the coolants (molten salts, liquid metal, water, He gas) on the MA transmutation were evaluated. Neutron transport and burn-up simulations were performed using simple rectangular model. The results indicated that liquid metal PbBi most contributed to reduce the heavy metal nuclides because it less moderates neutrons and has low cross section of neutron absorption. In contrast, the amounts of the heavy metal nuclides reduction were small in the case of water coolant. Water effectively decelerates neutrons, which results in that MA turned to other heavy metal nuclides. Plutonium, mainly ²³⁸Pu and ²³⁹Pu, gradually accumulate in any case of coolants. The produced Pu is applicable to fast reactor fuels from the viewpoint of neutronics. The results, therefore, imply that the feasibility of the fuel cycle between light water reactor, fast reactor, and fusion reactor.