Use of Enriched Uranium in a Fast Reactor with Lead Coolant

Abstract

The transition of a lead-cooled reactor initially fueled with enriched uranium into an equilibrium operating regime is examined. Regenerated fuel is used consistently upon closure of the fuel cycle. The defi ciency of recycled fissile material is compensated by enriched uranium. The time to the equilibrium regime is 45 years. The breeding ratio reaches 1 in approximately 38 years. The neutron-physical characteristics were calculated using the multigroup diffusion code Arktika and the PRIZMA spectral code, which employs the Monte Carlo method. The RISK code was used to calculate the evolution of the nuclide composition. The change in the nuclide composition in the external fuel cycle was calculated after each microrun.