Monte Carlo-Based Analysis for the Transmutation of Transuranic Waste Recycled in Light Water Reactors

Analysis is performed on the production and destruction rates of recycled transuranics (TRUs) in a light water reactor (LWR) fuel assembly using a Monte Carlo-based fuel depletion code (MONTEBURNS 2.0). Thirteen TRUs were recycled into the LWR model through ten 3-yr burnup cycles for a total depletion period of 30 yr. The focus of the research was to determine the relative reduction of TRU waste within the fuel cycle and determine the impact of the recycled TRUs on fuel criticality, waste toxicity, activity, and heat-load production. The amount of TRUs could be reduced by more than a factor of 4 for a 30-yr period when these 13 isotopes were recycled.