Optimal Cycle Length of MAGNOX Reactor for Weapons-Grade Plutonium Production

• 발행기관: 한국방사성폐기물학회
• 저자명: Seongjin Jeong Jinseok Han Hyun Chul Lee
• 간행물 정보: 『Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology (JNFCWT)』Vol.22 No.2, 219~226쪽, 전체 8쪽
• 주제분류: 공학 > 공학일반
• 파일형태: PDF
• 발행일자: 2024.06.30

국문 초록

Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) has produced weapon-grade plutonium in a graphite-moderated experimental reactor at the Yongbyon nuclear facilities. The amount of plutonium produced can be estimated using the Graphite Isotope Ratio Method (GIRM), even without considering specific operational histories. However, the result depends to some degree on the operational cycle length. Moreover, an optimal cycle length can maximize the number of nuclear weapons made from the plutonium produced. For conservatism, it should be assumed that the target reactor was operated with an optimal cycle length. This study investigated the optimal cycle length using which the Calder Hall MAGNOX reactor can achieve the maximum annual production of nuclear weapons. The results show that lower enrichment fuel produced a greater number of critical plutonium spheres with a shorter optimal cycle length. Specifically, depleted uranium (0.69wt%) produced 5.561 critical plutonium spheres annually with optimal cycle lengths of 251 effective full power days. This research is crucial for understanding DPRK’s potential for nuclear weapon production and highlights the importance of reactor operational strategy in maximizing the production of weapons-grade plutonium in MAGNOX reactors.

키워드

MAGNOX Weapon-grade plutonium production DPRK nuclear capabilities Cycle length optimization GIRM