Systems and Methods for Reducing the Storage Time of Spent Nuclear Fuel
AssigneeNorthrop Grumman Systems Corporation
InventorPeter Moshchansky Livingston
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Systems and methods are provided for reducing the storage time of spent nuclear fuel. In one embodiment, a method is provided that includes providing a sample of spent nuclear fuel and irradiating the spent nuclear fuel with substantially collimated gamma ray photons having energy levels of about 10 MeV to about 15 MeV for a predetermined time period to initiate a photofission reaction in the remaining fertile fissile material in the spent nuclear fuel.
Claims20
A method of reducing the storage time of spent nuclear fuel, the method comprising:
- providing a sample of spent nuclear fuel;
- and
- irradiating the spent nuclear fuel with substantially collimated gamma ray photons having energy levels of about 10 MeV to about 15 MeV for a predetermined time period to initiate a photofission reaction in the remaining fertile fissile material in the spent nuclear fuel.
A method of reducing the storage time of spent nuclear fuel rods, the method comprising:
- placing a spent nuclear fuel rod in a nuclear reactor with a plurality of active nuclear fuel rods and a plurality of control rods;
- removing one or more of the plurality of control rods until the reactor reaches near criticality;
- and
- irradiating the spent nuclear fuel with substantially collimated gamma ray photons having energy levels of about 10 MeV to about 15 MeV for a predetermined time period to initiate a photofission reaction in the remaining fertile fissile material in the spent nuclear fuel rod.
A system of reducing the storage time of spent nuclear fuel, the system comprising:
- a chamber configured to hold a sample of spent nuclear fuel;
- and
- a gamma ray free electron laser (FEL) spaced apart from the nuclear reactor and positioned to irradiate the spent nuclear fuel with substantially collimated gamma ray photons having energy levels of about 10 MeV to about 15 MeV for a predetermined time period to initiate a photofission reaction in the remaining fertile fissile material in the spent nuclear fuel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.