The problem of large-scale production of plutonium-238 for autonomous energy sources

• Published in: Journal of physics. Conference series Vol. 1689; no. 1; pp. 12030 - 12038
• Main Authors: Shmelev, A N, Geraskin, N I, Kulikov, G G, Kulikov, E G, Apse, V A, Glebov, V B
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: IOP Publishing 01.11.2020
• ISSN: 1742-6588; 1742-6596
• DOI: 10.1088/1742-6596/1689/1/012030

The article is devoted to the urgent problem of large-scale production of plutonium-238. Various starting isotopes and Pu-238 production schemes are analyzed. The isotope characteristics of the chain based on the starting Np-237 isotope are presented. It has been substantiated that the region of neutron resonant absorption for the isotope Np-237 is the preferred spectrum of its irradiation. It is proposed to form a region with a preferred neutron spectrum in the fast reactor core for irradiation of neptunium-237. The preferred spectrum is achieved by a heterogeneous target structure including neptunium-237 and a moderator with a high atomic weight (Pb, Pb-208, Bi, Pb-Bi eutectic). It is shown that when a moderator with a high atomic weight is used, it becomes possible to form an extensive region with the preferred spectrum. In conclusion, the main conditions for the large-scale production of isotopically pure Pu-238 in a fast reactor are formulated.