Plutonium processing consumption

The existence of such a process can be indirectly evidenced by the irregular change of decrement observed in free carbonate (also bicarbonate) concentrations near pH = 10 as illustrated in Figure 3. This may be ascribed to the consumption of free carbonate ions for the formation of the plutonium hydroxocarbonate precipitate. The reactions involved in this process are interpreted as follows ... 

Unlike other primary energy sources, the global consumption of uranium exceeds its production. Worldwide consumption in 2005 amounted to 66 500 tU (NEA/ IAEA, 2006b).9 As Fig. 4.3 shows, newly mined and processed uranium (primary supply) exceeded reactor-related uranium requirements until 1991. Since 1991, the gap between primary supply and uranium demand has been filled by secondary supply, i.e., material that has been held in inventory (both civilian and military in origin) or has been reprocessed. Besides reprocessed uranium and plutonium of spent... 

Recycling of plutonium from processing reduces uranium consumption by 30%... 

The long-awaited demonstrations in Superphenix have a three-fold goal to confirm the capacity of a fast reactor to satisfy the need, to specify the performance of this solution and to provide elements Indispensible for the compatibility of the two processes, plutonium consumption and actinide destruction, carried out simultaneoustly in the same reactor. 

Pu- are considered. Fuel is removed and processed at a rate required to maintain a specified poison level. The reactor consists of a core region in which plutonium is burned and of a blanket region containing uranium and plutonium. Under equilibrium conditions the net rate of production of plutonium in the blanket is eipial to the plutonium consumption in the core, in Table 2-11 are given [2D] some of the nuclear characteristics for... 

In a power-converter the plutonium is extracted from the blanket and fed to the core as fuel material. Natural uranium is fed to the blanket, and the plutonium formed is extracted by Purex processing. By adjusting the concentrations of fissionable materials in the blanket, the net rate of production of plutonium in the blanket is made equal to the consumption in the core. The fuel cycle considered for a two-region reactor is shown in Fig. 10-7. Plutonium from the core is processed continuou.sly through a... 

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