Nuclear fuel bearing minor actinides for the minimization of long-term radiotoxicity of high-level waste

 
At the end of the irradiation in a nuclear reactor, the fuel has undergone significant transformations with respect to its initial state. The accumulation of radiation damage due to neutron irradiation and to the consequences of fission and nuclear decay processes, combined with the effects of temperature and power gradients experienced by the fuel, results in a highly heterogeneous and restructured material. Moreover, the composition of the fuel has changed due to the accumulation of fission products and to the formation of transuranic elements through nuclear reactions. In particular, the formation of plutonium and of the so-called minor actinides (neptunium, americium and curium), which have long radioactive half-lives, accounts for most of the long-term radiotoxicity of spent nuclear fuel. Plutonium can be recycled and used as fuel. Extracting neptunium and americium from spent fuel and burning them in dedicated reactor systems (Partitioning and Transmutation, or P&T) can significantly reduce the long-term radiotoxicity of the high-level nuclear waste that must be disposed in a geological repository.
Many European and international projects and initiatives have explored effectiveness and safety of different P&T options. This talk provides a schematic overview and some highlights of challenges and their possible solutions as investigated in past and ongoing R&D programs, with particular emphasis on the experience gained through European projects and activities focused on oxide fuel compounds containing minor actinides.
Timing
18:30: Introduction of the EVL18:35: Presentation19:25: Q&A19:45: Drink20:30: End
Presentation material
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