Organizational Unit:
Fusion Research Center

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Now showing 1 - 6 of 6
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    Sub-critical Transmutation Reactors with Tokamak Fusion Neutron Sources
    (Georgia Institute of Technology, 2005) Stacey, Weston M. ; Mandrekas, John ; Hoffman, E. A. (Elisha Albright)
    The principal results of a series of design scoping studies of sub-critical fast transmutation reactors (based on the nuclear and processing technology being developed in the USDoE Generation IV, Advanced Fuel Cycle and Next Generation Nuclear Plant programs) coupled with a tokamak fusion neutron source (based on the ITER design basis physics and technology) are presented.
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    Next-Step Option Physics (Grant ER54350)
    (Georgia Institute of Technology, 2004-10) Stacey, Weston M. ; Mandrekas, John ; Hoffman, E. A. (Elisha Albright)
    For more than a decade we have been involved in physics and design analysis of possible nextstep tokamak options, including first ITER, later FIRE and most recently a tokamak neutron source for a near-term transmutation reactor for burning the transuranics in spent nuclear fuel. We have also recently supported the National Transport Code Coordination activity under this grant. In recent years, much of the effort has been devoted to defining the physics and performance characteristics required of a tokamak fusion neutron source that could drive a sub-critical reactor for the transmutation of the transuranics in spent nuclear fuel. This document provides a final report for the activity in each of these areas for the last grant period.
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    A Superconducting Tokamak Fusion Transmutation of Waste Reactor
    (Georgia Institute of Technology, 2004-01) Stacey, Weston M. ; Mauer, A. N. ; Mandrekas, John ; Hoffman, E. A. (Elisha Albright)
    We are developing a Fusion Transmutation of Waste Reactor (FTWR) concept—a sub-critical, metal fuel, liquid metal cooled fast reactor driven by a tokamak DT fusion neutron source. An emphasis is placed on using nuclear, separation/processing and fusion technologies that either exist or are at an advanced state of development and on using plasma physics parameters that are supported by the existing database. We have previously discussed the general capabilities of DT tokamak neutron sources for driving transmutation reactors [1] and developed a design concept for a FTWR [2] based on normal conducting magnets. The concept has been further developed in papers dealing with nuclear design and safety [3] and with the evaluation of the potential impact on radioactive waste management [4]. The purpose of this paper is to examine how the FTWR design concept would change if superconducting magnets were used.
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    Nuclear design and analysis of the fusion transmutation of waste reactor
    (Georgia Institute of Technology, 2004-01) Stacey, Weston M. ; Hoffman, E. A. (Elisha Albright)
    The nuclear design and safety analyses for the Fusion Transmutation of Waste Reactor (FTWR) are described. The advantages of sub-critical operation for nuclear stability and safety are illustrated.
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    Compartative fuel cycle analysis of critical and sub-critical fast reactor transmutation systems
    (Georgia Institute of Technology, 2003-10) Stacey, Weston M. ; Hoffman, E. A. (Elisha Albright)
    Fuel cycle analyses are performed to evaluate the impacts of further transmutation of spent nuclear fuel on high-level and low-level waste mass flows into repositories, on the composition and toxicity of the high-level waste, on the capacity of high-level waste repositories, and on the proliferation-resistance of the high-level waste. Storage intact of LWR spent nuclear fuel, a single recycle in a LWR of the plutonium as MOX fuel, and the repeated recycle of the transuranics in critical and sub-critical fast reactors are compared with the focus on the waste management performance of these systems. Other consideration such as cost and technological challenges were beyond the scope of this study. The overall conclusion of the studies is that repeated recycling of the transuranics from spent nuclear fuel would significantly increase the capacity of high-level waste repositories per unit of nuclear energy produced, significantly increase the nuclear energy production per unit mass of uranium ore mined, significantly reduce the radio-toxicity of the waste streams per unit of nuclear energy produced, and significantly enhance the proliferation-resistance of the material stored in high-level waste repositories.
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    A Fusion Transmutation of Waste Reactor
    (Georgia Institute of Technology, 2002-03) Stacey, Weston M. ; Mandrekas, John ; Hoffman, E. A. (Elisha Albright) ; Kessler, G. P. ; Kirby, C. M. ; Mauer, A. N. ; Noble, J. J. ; Stopp, D. M. ; Ulevich, D. S.
    A design concept and the performance characteristics for a fusion transmutation of waste reactor (FTWR)—a sub-critical fast reactor driven by a tokamak fusion neutron source--are presented. The present design concept is based on nuclear, processing and fusion technologies that either exist or are at an advanced stage of development and on the existing tokamak plasma physics database. A FTWR, operating with k[subscript eff] ≤ 0.95 at a thermal power output of about 3 GW and with a fusion neutron source operating at Q [subscript p] = 1.5-2, could fission the transuranic content of about a hundred metric tons of spent nuclear fuel per full-power-year and would be self-sufficient in both electricity and tritium production. In equilibrium, a nuclear fleet consisting of LWRs and FTWRs in the electrical power ratio of 3/1 would reduce the actinides discharged from the LWRs in a once-through fuel cycle by 99.4% in the waste stream that must be stored in high-level waste repositories.