Proposal of a plutonium burner system based on HTGR with high proliferation resistance

Fukaya, Yuji   ; Goto, Minoru  ; Ohashi, Hirofumi ; Tachibana, Yukio ; Kunitomi, Kazuhiko ; Chiba, Satoshi*

A plutonium burner HTGR concept of "Clean Burn" has been investigated based on the experience with the HTTR construction and operation, and the GTHTR300 design. The concept aims at effective and safe consumption of the surplus plutonium from LWR spent fuel once through. The Clean Burn employs IMF that can be fabricated without a need to mix the plutonium with uranium. In addition, the incineration of the plutonium can be performed effectively without plutonium generation from the matrix and the reactivity defect. The IMF is also made into a highly stable form to keep fuel integrity and geological disposal stability. The particular fabrication system and the stable form make the IMF more proliferation resistant than the conventional LWR-MOX fuel. This advantage is attractive to the Japanese nuclear fuel cycle policy. Moreover, the Clean Burn has naturally safe feature because based on HTGR concept. A detailed investigation have shown that the proposed concept is effective and promising.