MadSci Network: Physics
Query:

Re: A possible approach to the reduction of nuclear waste.

Date: Tue Jul 6 08:36:35 1999
Posted By: Michael Baker, Technical Staff Member
Area of science: Physics
ID: 930883847.Ph
Message:

Spent nuclear fuel already contains several fission products that are 
prolific neutron sources. For example, Cm-244 and Cm-242 are typically the 
dominant neutron-emitting isotopes in spent nuclear fuel. These isotopes 
have spontaneous fission half lives of 18.1 and 0.45 years respectively.  
In addition to isotopes such as these that spontaneously fission, there is 
a high neutron output from (alpha,n) reactions. For Cm-242 the rate of 
alpha decay is around 10E+12 alphas/sec per gram of the isotope. This then 
results in the production of around 10E+6 neutrons per second. So as you 
can see there are already abundant sources of neutrons in the spent fuel.  
It is highly unlikey that it would economical to process the fuel 
assemblies for the purpose of adding additional neutron sources to those 
already present.  Currently nuclear fuel is considered to be a rather 
inexpensive part of producing energy from nuclear power. 

Also, to add a neutron source that would have a significant effect on core 
reactivity, would require a source on the same order of magnitude or larger 
than that already present.  Inserting a neutron source this large into the 
core, would raise series safety issues in addition to the economic issues

Construction of a "neutron source" rod would probably be relatively 
straight forward, but the economic and licensing issues would likely be 
very difficult.



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