Reactor for production of U-233

摘要

The production of a novel nuclear fuel utilizing clean uranium 233 in combination with other nuclear materials is made possible by utilization of an equally novel reactor configuration and method of operation. Clean uranium 233 is produced from thorium in a light water reactor while utilizing discrete separation of the thorium being irradiated from the fissile fuel. This clean uranium 233 is then incorporated directly as fissile isotope enrichment into a new nuclear fuel which may be done without encountering the usual difficulties and hazards in the handling of uranium 233 or the expense and delays associated with gaseous diffusion enrichment. The thorium from this process may be directly reprocessed for reactor charging without radiation hazard also.