Proliferation aspects of plutonium recycling

Bruno Pellaud

doi:10.1016/S1631-0705(02)01364-6

Du combustible nucléaire aux déchets : recherches actuelles/From nuclear fuels to waste: current research

Proliferation aspects of plutonium recycling
[Prolifération et recyclage du plutonium]

Bruno Pellaud ¹

¹ Nuclear Consultant, Chemin de la Bourgeoisie 3, CH-1977 Icogne, Switzerland

Comptes Rendus. Physique, Volume 3 (2002) no. 7-8, pp. 1067-1079.

Résumé
Abstract

Le recyclage du plutonium ouvre des perspectives prometteuses compatibles avec un développement énergétique durable, et il peut de plus contribuer à la non-prolifération. Avant recyclage, le plutonium de la filière des réacteurs à eau légère se prête mal à la fabrication d'engins explosifs nucléaires ; après, quasiment plus. Les organismes de contrôles des matières nucléaires devraient identifier et adopter plusieurs catégories de plutonium tenant compte des différentes compositions isotopiques, afin de mieux refléter les vrais risques et mieux cibler leurs inspections. L'auteur propose l'adoption de trois catégories de plutonium.

Plutonium recycling offers benefits in an energy perspective of sustainable development, and, moreover it contributes to non-proliferation. Prior to recycling, reactor-grade plutonium from light-water reactors does not lend itself easily to the assembly of explosive nuclear devices; thereafter, practically not at all. Control systems for material security and non-proliferation should identify and adopt several categories of plutonium covering various isotopic mixtures associated with different fuel types, in order to better reflect the risks and to better focus their controls. The author proposes the adoption of three categories of plutonium.

Reçu le : 2002-04-01
Accepté le : 2002-05-23
Publié le : 2002-07-12

DOI : 10.1016/S1631-0705(02)01364-6

Keywords: proliferation, security, plutonium, recycling, MOX, explosive device, nuclear reactor
Mot clés : prolifération, sécurité, plutonium, recyclage, MOX, engin explosif, réacteur nucléaire

Affiliations des auteurs :

Bruno Pellaud ¹

¹ Nuclear Consultant, Chemin de la Bourgeoisie 3, CH-1977 Icogne, Switzerland

@article{CRPHYS_2002__3_7-8_1067_0,
     author = {Bruno Pellaud},
     title = {Proliferation aspects of plutonium recycling},
     journal = {Comptes Rendus. Physique},
     pages = {1067--1079},
     publisher = {Elsevier},
     volume = {3},
     number = {7-8},
     year = {2002},
     doi = {10.1016/S1631-0705(02)01364-6},
     language = {en},
}

TY  - JOUR
AU  - Bruno Pellaud
TI  - Proliferation aspects of plutonium recycling
JO  - Comptes Rendus. Physique
PY  - 2002
SP  - 1067
EP  - 1079
VL  - 3
IS  - 7-8
PB  - Elsevier
DO  - 10.1016/S1631-0705(02)01364-6
LA  - en
ID  - CRPHYS_2002__3_7-8_1067_0
ER  -

%0 Journal Article
%A Bruno Pellaud
%T Proliferation aspects of plutonium recycling
%J Comptes Rendus. Physique
%D 2002
%P 1067-1079
%V 3
%N 7-8
%I Elsevier
%R 10.1016/S1631-0705(02)01364-6
%G en
%F CRPHYS_2002__3_7-8_1067_0

Bruno Pellaud. Proliferation aspects of plutonium recycling. Comptes Rendus. Physique, Volume 3 (2002) no. 7-8, pp. 1067-1079. doi : 10.1016/S1631-0705(02)01364-6. https://comptes-rendus.academie-sciences.fr/physique/articles/10.1016/S1631-0705(02)01364-6/

Bibliographie
Cité par

[1] D.A. Rossin, Secrecy and misguided policy, Center for International Security and Cooperation, Stanford, Paper presented at the Global 2001 Conference, Paris, 2001

[2] G.W. Bush, National energy policy, 2001

[3] Committee on International Security and Arms Control, National Academy of Sciences, Interim Report for the U.S. Department of Energy by the Panel to Review the Spent-Fuel Standard for Disposition of Excess Weapons Plutonium, 1999

[4] A. DeVolpi, Forum on Physics & Society of the American Physical Society, January 2002

[5] R. Dautray, L'énergie nucléaire civile dans le cadre temporal des changements climatiques (Nuclear energy in the context of climatic transitions), Report to the French Academy of Sciences, Editions Tec&Doc, 2001

[6] D. Albright; F. Berkout; W. Walker Plutonium and Highly Enriched Uranium 1996, SIPRI and Oxford University Press, 1997

[7] J.C. Mark, Reactor-grade plutonium's explosive properties, Consultant, Nuclear Control Institute, 1990

[8] Private communication, 1995

[9] J.C. Mark Explosive properties of reactor-grade plutonium, Science and Global Security, Volume 4 (1993), pp. 111-128

[10] Siemens AG, Buildup of Pu isotopes in a U fuel assembly with 4% initial enrichment, Private communication

[11] Private communication, 1994

[12] J. Swahn, The long-term nuclear explosive predicament…, Technical Peace Research Group, Institute of Physical Resource Theory, Gothenburg, 1992, pp. 59-65

[13] N. Gylden, L. Holm, Risks of nuclear explosives production in secret, Swedish National Defence Research Institute, 1974

[14] A. DeVolpi Proliferation, Plutonium and Policy: Institutional and Technological Impediments to Nuclear Weapons Propagation, Pergamon Press, 1979

[15] A. DeVolpi, Demilitarization of plutonium, Arms Control and Nonproliferation Program, Argonne National Laboratory, Proc. Inst. Nuclear Mat. Management, 1994

[16] Quote from the “Secrecy & Government Bulletin”, Federation of American Scientists 57 (1996)

[17] J. Carlson; J. Bardsley; V. Bragin; J. Hill Plutonium isotopics – Non-proliferation and safeguards issues, Symposium on International Safeguards, IAEA, Vienna, 1997

[18] Report of the Canberra Commission, Government of Australia, Department of Foreign affairs and Trade, 1996

Cité par Sources :

Commentaires - Politique