Reprocessed uranium purification in cascades with 235U enrichment to 5%

Abstract

The purification of reprocessed uranium in a cascade optimized to a prescribed 232U concentration with the feed flow displaced toward the product flow is investigated by means of a computational experiment. The parameters of a cascade with 235U enrichment <5% in the product, which ensures almost complete purification from 232U with 235U concentration close to that in the feed flow, are determined. The possibilities for simultaneous purification from 234U with reduction of reprocessed uranium extraction into the waste flow are examined. Additional dilution and enrichment operations are proposed in order to decrease the 236U concentration in low-enrichment uranium produced from purified reprocessed uranium. © 2013 Springer Science+Business Media New York.