Plutonium disposition in the PBMR-400 High-Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactor

Versatility in application is considered to be one of the major characteristics of a typical Generation IV type reactor. In this paper the opportunities offered by on-line fuelling in a pebble bed reactor concept is demonstrated in a design aimed at the dispositioning of weapons grade or reactor grade plutonium. The standard PBMR-400 commercial reactor design is chosen. The fuel cycle variations are selected to achieve the inherently safe characteristics that are accepted as standard practice in the PBMR design philosophy. Calculated results of the phenomena of interest are presented, such as the levels of Pu dispositioning achieved and the negative temperature coefficient. Tables are presented displaying the characteristic data of inserted material versus the remaining content in the discharged spent fuel.