The effect of the internal elements of a tokamak with different coolants on the transmutation rate of long-lived actinides is studied. The Monte Carlo method is used to calculate nuclear reactions in a homogeneous model of a blanket and in specific designs of a blanket. The neutron-physical calculations of a homogeneous model of a blanket showed that the absorption of neutrons by the central column of the tokamak and their moderation by the beryllium coating slow the transmutation rate to 35% of the initial value with the most efficient utilization of lead coolant. For water coolant, this effect is negligible. In a heterogeneous model of a blanket where water coolant is used, plutonium must be added to the actinides (50%/50%). The use of lead as the coolant will increase the transmutation rate of the actinides without using plutonium. In this case, it will be possible to reprocess spent nuclear fuel from more than 10 VVER-1000 in the JUST-T hybrid reactor.
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Translated from Atomnaya Énergiya,Vol. 110, No. 2, pp. 84–88, February, 2011.
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Azizov, E.A., Gladush, G.G., Lopatkin, A.V. et al. Tokamak based hybrid systems for fuel production and recovery from spent nuclear fuel. At Energy 110, 93–98 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10512-011-9396-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10512-011-9396-2