Abstracts and Available Papers Presented at the
2004 International RERTR Meeting

THE NEED TO ADDRESS THE LARGER UNIVERSE OF HEU-FUELED REACTORS, INCLUDING: CRITICAL ASSEMBLIES, PULSED REACTORS AND PROPULSION REACTORS

F. N. von Hippel
Program on Science & Global Security Princeton University
221 Nassau St, 2nd floor, Princeton New Jersey 08542-4601, USA

ABSTRACT
 

The RERTR program has focused on ending shipments of HEU fuel to research reactors. Highest priority has been given to reactors with steady thermal powers ≥ 1 megawatt. Since the cores of critical assemblies and pulsed reactors can contain huge amounts of HEU, they should be a second focus. Also, since many aging and specialized HEU-fuelled reactors may no longer be needed, more emphasis should be given to initiatives that could assist in their shutdown and decommissioning, including providing access to regional reactors with superior facilities.

HEU-fuelled ship-propulsion reactors should also be addressed. Russia’s civilian icebreaker reactors are of particular interest because their fuel design is considered less sensitive than that of naval reactor fuel. Moreover, Russia’s KLT-40 icebreaker reactor is being adapted for a floating nuclear power plant and LEU icebreaker fuel could be used for converting Russian research reactors such as PIK and SM-3, that operate at power-reactor temperatures.

---

---