Patent · US Expired

Method for the destruction of plutonium by irradiation in a light water reactor

US5966418A · kind A · utility

1Cited by

4References

9Claims

0Family size

Assignee

European Atomic Energy Community · LU

Inventors

Joseph Magill · Pittsburgh, US
Hansjoachim Matzke · Weingarten, DE
George Nicolaou · Ettlingen, DE
Paolo Peerani · Leopoldshafen, DE
Jacques Van Geel · Ettlingen, DE

Key dates

Filing date	Jan 5, 1998
Grant date	Oct 12, 1999
Priority date	—
Expiry date	Jan 5, 2018

Classification

Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
CPC primaryY02E30/30
WIPO fieldEngines, pumps, turbines
WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

This invention relates to a method for the destruction of plutonium (Pu) by irradiation in a light water reactor (LWR). According to the invention Pu is mixed with highly enriched uranium (U) in roughly equal weight proportion rates. This mixture is embedded in an inert matrix of a material whose components have an atomic number significantly lower than 92. LWR fuel pins are then produced therefrom and these pins are inserted in a LWR in place of certain normal LWR fuel pins. The irradiation time of the fuel pins containing Pu is significantly longer than that of said normal pins. The irradiation is preferably repeated after about 200 years without any reprocessing of the spent fuel.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.