Title: Design of a New Transmutation Data Repository
Author: Arantxa Cuadra, Brookhaven National Laboratory
Abstract: Over the years, the Systems Analysis and Integration (SA&I) Campaign of the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Nuclear Energy (DOE-NE), and its predecessor, the Fuel Cycle Options (FCO) Campaign, have produced an abundance of information on fuel cycle reactor stage information, including that developed for the Nuclear Fuel Cycle Evaluation and Screening (E&S) study [Wigeland 2014]. In addition to the E&S, there are hundreds of other analyses/evaluations in the legacy transmutation library (some performed in support of the E&S), and equilibrium system performance analyses performed after the E&S, particularly for the reactors in the Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program (ARDP), or others fueled with High Assay Low Enriched Uranium (HALEU). This information includes detailed burnup-dependent isotopic compositions, e.g. of fresh or discharged fuel, and is of value to numerous stakeholders, including the INMM community. An effort to compile, save, and make this information accessible to the nuclear community is underway. While the place of residence of this new transmutation data repository is still to be determined, an important goal of this effort is to develop a graphical user interface that will offer enhanced features such as calculating metrics (activity, decay heat, …) associated with the isotopic compositions under consideration, as well as performing time evolution (decay) calculations. The transmutation data repository can be used to generate inputs for subsequent fuel cycle calculations, as a starting point for back-end of the fuel cycle analysis, or as a training/educational tool; to maximize usefulness, it is important to involve all stakeholders from the initial stages of development.
[Wigeland 2014] Wigeland, R., et al., Nuclear Fuel Cycle Evaluation and Screening—Final Report, INL/EXT-14-31465 FCRD- FCO-2014-000106, Idaho Falls, ID, Idaho National Laboratory, October 8, 2014