Development of technologies for reduction in volume and toxicity of high-level radioactive wastes, 2; Challenges in fast reactor cycle

Maeda, Seiichiro

no journal, , 

The uranium-plutonium mixed oxide (MOX) fuel bearing several percent minor actinides is adopted as the fast reactor fuel to reduce the high level radioactive waste volume and its toxicities. Their physical properties such as melting points and thermal conductivities are investigated symmetrically. It is getting clear that the effect of MA bearing is not so significant. The MOX fuel pins including up to 5% of Am were irradiated in Joyo to confirm their irradiation performance. Some types of irradiation experiments using MA-MOX fuels are planned after Joyo restart. The obtained data will contribute to develop fuel pin performance codes for MA-MOX fuels. SmART (Small Amount of Reuse Fuel Test) cycle program is in progress to demonstrate MA recycles starting from FR spent fuels. Furthermore, long life cladding with ODS steel is under development to enhance the transmutation efficiency of MA in one cycle. Thus, R&Ds in FR systems advances steadily to solve the waste issue.