Effect of minor actinides doping on plutonium produced in large-scale FBR blanket

The present study focuses on the effect of minor actinides (MAs) addition into the FBR blanket as ways of increasing fraction of even-mass-number plutonium isotopes, especially 238Pu, aiming at enhancing the proliferation resistance of plutonium produced in the blanket. The MA loading potential to enhance the proliferation resistance of plutonium is investigated, with considering actual design constraints on the fuel decay heat from the fuel handling and fabrication points of view, as MAs considerably generate decay heat. It reveals that depending on doping quantity of MAs, it is possible to denature produced plutonium by MA transmutation. MA addition in the blanket gives a significant increment in 238Pu fraction of generated plutonium but less effect on other even-mass-number plutonium isotopes. However, it is important that MA compositions should be adequately controlled to satisfy both the proliferation resistance requirements and the decay heat constraints for fuel handling.

► MA addition into the FBR blanket as ways of increasing fraction of 238Pu isotope. ► The fraction of 241Am plays the important role in the generation of 238Pu isotope. ► MA addition will increase the decay heat of fresh fuel subassembly. ► Controlling MA addition enables satisfying nonproliferation and decay heat. ► Decay heat of MA-loaded blanket increase with multi-cycling in FBR fuel cycle.