TRU Incineration using Passive Compact Molten Salt Reactor

Transuranic (TRU) elements are often considered both a proliferation hazard and radiation hazard if not properly managed. Instead of directly disposing it, incinerating TRU in a nuclear reactor can be beneficial in increasing its usefulness as a nuclear fuel whilst simultaneously reducing the aforementioned perceived risks. This study analyses the efficiency of TRU incineration in Passive Compact Molten Salt Reactor (PCMSR) using various types of TRU, namely Reactor Grade Plutonium (RGPu), Reactor Grade Plutonium with Minor Actinide (RGPuMA), Weapon Grade Plutonium (WGPu), and Weapon Grade Plutonium with Minor Actinide (WGPuMA). Key parameters such as keff, temperature coefficient of reactivity (TCR), and transmutation efficiency (TE) were calculated using MCNP6 radiation transport code. The reactor was run in converter mode, ignoring online fuel reprocessing apart from gaseous fission products and non-soluble metals. The result show that for all cases, PCMSR can effectively transmute TRU whilst maintaining negative TCR, fulfilling inherent safety criteria. © 2024 American Institute of Physics Inc.. All rights reserved.