Studying the minor actinides burnup in the fast reactor core

This work objective lies in studying the burnup processes of the minor actinides (MA) positioned in the fast reactor core with the sodium coolant for their transmutation. The paper assesses isotopic and quantitative composition of the irradiated nuclear fuel of a water-moderated thermal power reactor in terms of the minor actinides to determine composition of the transmuted MA mixture, which could be loaded potentially in a fast reactor. The minor actinides homogeneous and heterogeneous loading in the fuel assembly is computationally simulated to study the effect of various arrangements of the MA isotopic mixture in the fast reactor on the transmutation efficiency. Based on the obtained results analysis, the considered methods of the MA arrangement are compared, and their features, advantages and disadvantages are identified.

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