On TiN-particle fuel based helium-cooled transmutation systems

We have designed a sub-critical helium-cooled core with TiN-coated particle fuel, dedicated to the transmutation of minor actinides. The excellent neutronic properties of helium allows for a low plutonium fraction in the fuel, which yields a low reactivity swing, Δk = 2600 pcm, for a burnup of 31.2%. Further the neutron spectrum is hard, limiting the buildup of Cm and Cf. The high burnup combined with a minor actinide burning rate of 355 kg/GWth year makes the present design an attractive transmutation system.