Study of a Lead-Bismuth Cooled Fusion Blanket for Burning Transuranic Actinides

A study was performed of a lead-bismuth eutectic (LBE) cooled blanket with integral fast reactor-type fuel to burn actinides extracted from the fission reactor spent fuel. Detailed burn-up calculations were completed.

Performance parameters such as k-eff, tritium breeding ratio, and blanket energy multiplication during burn-up were obtained to assess the characteristics of a LBE cooled transmutation system. Technical issues associated with use of LBE for burning the transuranic actinides were identified.