Optimization of Plutonium-238 Production in the Advanced Test Reactor

Emory Colvin; Braden Burt; Logan Carpenter; Spencer Ercanbrack; Justina Freilich; Reed Herner; Takanori Kajihara; Jared Magnusson

Optimization of Plutonium-238 Production in the Advanced Test Reactor

Emory Colvin
, Braden Burt
, Logan Carpenter
, Spencer Ercanbrack
, Justina Freilich
, Reed Herner
, Takanori Kajihara
, Jared Magnusson

Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper › peer-review

Abstract

Plutonium production for use in Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generators (RTGs) is necessary to augment a dwindling stockpile of available fuel. Plutonium-238 (238Pu), the isotope of choice for this application, was initially a by-product of the weapons program and is currently in production directly at the High Flux Isotope Reactor (HFIR) at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). With a national production goal of 1.5 kg 238PuO2 per year, additional production capacity is needed. The Advanced Test Reactor (ATR) at Idaho National Laboratory (INL) is an attractive facility due to its high flux. This paper continues previous work exploring the suitability of several irradiation positions in the ATR for 238Pu production.

Original language	American English
State	Published - Apr 6 2020
Externally published	Yes

Cite this

@conference{d6a0bb6073934f918f8ebbab81f3e3a6,

title = "Optimization of Plutonium-238 Production in the Advanced Test Reactor",

abstract = "Plutonium production for use in Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generators (RTGs) is necessary to augment a dwindling stockpile of available fuel. Plutonium-238 (238Pu), the isotope of choice for this application, was initially a by-product of the weapons program and is currently in production directly at the High Flux Isotope Reactor (HFIR) at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). With a national production goal of 1.5 kg 238PuO2 per year, additional production capacity is needed. The Advanced Test Reactor (ATR) at Idaho National Laboratory (INL) is an attractive facility due to its high flux. This paper continues previous work exploring the suitability of several irradiation positions in the ATR for 238Pu production.",

author = "Emory Colvin and Braden Burt and Logan Carpenter and Spencer Ercanbrack and Justina Freilich and Reed Herner and Takanori Kajihara and Jared Magnusson",

year = "2020",

month = apr,

day = "6",

language = "American English",

}

TY - CONF

T1 - Optimization of Plutonium-238 Production in the Advanced Test Reactor

AU - Colvin, Emory

AU - Burt, Braden

AU - Carpenter, Logan

AU - Ercanbrack, Spencer

AU - Freilich, Justina

AU - Herner, Reed

AU - Kajihara, Takanori

AU - Magnusson, Jared

PY - 2020/4/6

Y1 - 2020/4/6

N2 - Plutonium production for use in Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generators (RTGs) is necessary to augment a dwindling stockpile of available fuel. Plutonium-238 (238Pu), the isotope of choice for this application, was initially a by-product of the weapons program and is currently in production directly at the High Flux Isotope Reactor (HFIR) at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). With a national production goal of 1.5 kg 238PuO2 per year, additional production capacity is needed. The Advanced Test Reactor (ATR) at Idaho National Laboratory (INL) is an attractive facility due to its high flux. This paper continues previous work exploring the suitability of several irradiation positions in the ATR for 238Pu production.

AB - Plutonium production for use in Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generators (RTGs) is necessary to augment a dwindling stockpile of available fuel. Plutonium-238 (238Pu), the isotope of choice for this application, was initially a by-product of the weapons program and is currently in production directly at the High Flux Isotope Reactor (HFIR) at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). With a national production goal of 1.5 kg 238PuO2 per year, additional production capacity is needed. The Advanced Test Reactor (ATR) at Idaho National Laboratory (INL) is an attractive facility due to its high flux. This paper continues previous work exploring the suitability of several irradiation positions in the ATR for 238Pu production.

M3 - Paper

ER -

Optimization of Plutonium-238 Production in the Advanced Test Reactor

Abstract

Fingerprint

Cite this