Epithermal-Thermal Pu-Th and ²³³U-U Reactor Systems

Received November 3, 1981 Accepted for Publication March 22, 1982 A symbiotic system of Pu-Th- and ²³³U-U-fueled reactors has been proposed and analyzed. The Pu-Th reactors utilize a tight lattice core and the ²³³U-U reactors utilize a regular pressurized water reactor (PWR) core. The two cases were investigated with different Pu-Th cores (system A: V_M/V_F =0.4 and system B: V_M/V_F - 1.0) and similar ²³³U-U cores. The cumulative 30-yr requirements of uranium ore and separative work for both systems were evaluated and indicated significant savings compared to current PWRs with plutonium recycle and the cross-progeny fuel cycle. The fuel cycle costs calculated for the proposed systems were slightly higher than those for the current PWR cycle.