Nuclear reactor for breeding U.sup.233
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the United States Energy Research and Development Administration
InventorsCharles S. Bohanan, David H. Jones, Harry F. Raab, Jr., Alvin Radkowsky
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A light-water-cooled nuclear reactor capable of breeding U.sup.233 for use in a light-water breeder reactor includes physically separated regions containing U.sup.235 fissile material and U.sup.238 fertile material and Th.sup.232 fertile material and Pu.sup.239 fissile material, if available. Preferably the U.sup.235 fissile material and U.sup.238 fertile material are contained in longitudinally movable seed regions and the Pu.sup.239 fissile material and Th.sup.232 fertile material are contained in blanket regions surrounding the seed regions.
Claims1
Method of producing U.sup.233 for use in a light-water-cooled breeder reactor comprising operating a seed-and-blanket reactor containing U.sup.235 fuel and U.sup.238 fertile material in the seed and Th.sup.232 fertile material in the blanket, the Th.sup.232 being physically separated from the uranium, to produce Pu.sup.239 in the seed and U.sup.233 in the blanket, recovering the Pu.sup.239 and U.sup.233 thus produced, incorporating the Pu.sup.239 thus produced in the blanket of a seed-and-blanket reactor along with Th.sup.232 wherein the seed consists of U.sup.235 and U.sup.238, operating the reactor to produce Pu.sup.239 in the seed and U.sup.233 in the blanket, continuing such operation of a seed-and-blanket reactor incorporating an optimum proportion of Pu.sup.239 therein, recovering and retaining additional amounts of Pu.sup.239 produced, recovering and retaining U.sup.233 so produced until enough is obtained to constitute the fissile fuel loading for a U.sup.233 fueled light-water breeder reactor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.