Nuclear fuel with isotopically depleted burnable absorber

摘要

By using AVLIS or other methods capable of providing a depleted isotopic mixture, troublesome isotopes such as Gd154, Gd156 and Er166 are selectively removed from naturally occurring isotopic mixtures, while avoiding the additional costs associated with complete fractionation of the mixture. Such mixtures can be used to provide a burnable nuclear fuel absorber having a selectively depleted isotope or isotopes. In particular, the invention concerns burnable absorbers containing erbium with a depleted 166 isotope, gadolinium with a depleted 156 isotope or with depleted 154 and 156 isotopes, and methods for making such absorbers.