Criticality Scoping Calculations for a Multi-Function Dissolver Insert

Abstract

As one of its missions, the Savannah River Site seeks to be a leader in the safe and productive disposition of special nuclear materials. One of the premier programs is the disposition of used nuclear fuel (UNF), primarily from research reactors, through dissolution, purification, and down blend into low enriched uranium for commercial power reactors. Prior to use, this fuel contained highly enriched uranium (HEU). In an effort to advance this expertise, this study has been performed to demonstrate the feasibility to disposition a number of special geometry HEU fuels. These fuels come from a number of different domestic and foreign research reactors which had geometries considerably different from round or square bundles of plates or rods. As such, they cannot be dispositioned in current H-Canyon dissolver inserts so a new, multi-function dissolver insert may be considered. While this is not a current mission, it is believed that this study’s scoping calculations demonstrate the feasibility of the site taking such a mission.