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Criticality Evaluation of Plutonium Disposition Ceramic Waste Form: Degraded Mode

Thep purpose of this calculation is to perform degraded mode criticality evaluations of plutonium disposed in a ceramic waste form and emplaced in a Monitored geologic Repository (MGR). A 5 Defense High-Level Waste (DHLW) Canister Waste Package (WP) design, incorporating the can-in-canister concept for plutonium immobilization is considered in this calculation. Each HLW glass pour canister contains 7 tubes. Each tube contains 4 cans, with 20 ceramic disks (immobilized plutonium) in each.

Report on Intact and Degraded Criticality for Selected Plutonium Waste Forms in a Geologic Repository

As part of the plutonium waste form development and down-select process, repository analyses have been conducted to evaluate the long-term performance of these forms for repository acceptance. Intact and degraded mode criticality analysis of the mixed oxide (MOX) spent fuel is presented in Volume I, while Volume II presents the evaluations of the waste form containing plutonium immobilized in a ceramic matrix.

Evaluation of Internal Criticality of the Plutonium Disposition Ceramic Waste Form

The purpose of this calculation is to perform partially and fully degraded mode criticality evaluations of plutonium disposed of in a ceramic waste form and emplaced in a Monitored Geologic Repository. The partially degraded mode is represented by the immobilized plutonium ceramic discs piled in the bottom of the waste package (WP) while neutron absorbers begin to leach out of the discs.

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