A particle accelerator‐driven spallation target and corresponding blanket region are proposed for the ultimate disposition of weapons‐grade plutonium being retired from excess nuclear weapons in the U.S. and Russia. The highly fissle plutonium is contained within .25 to .5 cm diameter silicon‐carbide coated graphite beads, which are cooled by helium, within the slightly subcritical blanket region. Major advantages include very high one‐pass burnup (over 90%), a high integrity waste form (the coated beads), and operation in a subcritical mode, thereby minimizing the vulnerability to the positive reativity feedbacks often associated with plutonium fuel.

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Greorgy J. Van Tuyle

Papers

Accelerator-driven assembly for plutonium transformation (ADAPT)