Analysis of partitioning-and-transmutation system

The mass flow model of two-member transmutation chain is analytically developed for simple fuel cycle of irradiation in homogeneous core and partitioning of its irradiated spent fuel. The waste reduction ratio is analytically derived both for the assumed same loss fraction for two actinides and for the variable loss fraction with reductive extraction. The effects of system parameters of both transmutation and partitioning on the waste reduction ratio of individual actinide are investigated. For a sufficiently large value of destruction coefficient (d > 3), any value of loss fraction of discharged fuel ( falpha) can achieve an effective waste reduction. For a partitioning with reductive extraction, both the loss fraction and the waste reduction ratio depend on the irradiation history of fuel as well as the system parameters of both transmutation and partitioning. Large equilibrium constant of each actinide is primarily important for effective waste reduction when the transmutation properties in the core do not change. The use of the assumed same loss fraction for two actinides can be justified when (1) the transmutation system with reductive extraction is in a steady state (i.e., the composition of actinides does not change with irradiation history) and (2) the chemical properties of two actinides in reductive extraction is same.