Abstracts and Available Papers Presented at the
2005 International RERTR Meeting

ASSESSMENT OF FEASIBILITY OF CONVERTING RUSSIAN ICEBREAKER KLT-40 REACTORS FROM HEU TO LEU FUEL

A. M. Dmitriev
Scientific & Engineering Center on Nuclear and Radiation Safety
2/8 Malaya Krasnoselskaya, Moscow, 107140, Russia;

and

A. S. Diakov and A. M. Shuvaev
Center for Arms Control, Energy and Environmental Studies
Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology
9 Institutskii Per., Dolgoprudny, 141700, Russia

ABSTRACT

The use of high-enriched uranium (HEU) in reactor fuel creates dangers of theft or diversion of the HEU to weapons use. As a result, since 1978, there has been a major international effort to convert HEU-fueled research and test reactors to low-enriched uranium (LEU) and a considerable amount of experience has been accumulated in this area. But no similar effort has yet been mounted to convert ship-propulsion reactors. Based on the information available about the KLT-40 reactor used on Russian nuclear-powered icebreakers, we have carried out a preliminary study and conclude that these reactors could be fueled with LEU without reducing core life.

---

---