Naked Science Forum

Non Life Sciences => Chemistry => Topic started by: sanpaku on 20/03/2011 03:52:10

Title: Do heavy water reactors, like "CANDU", produce lots of Ce-137 and Sr-90?
Post by: sanpaku on 20/03/2011 03:52:10

Since CANDU reactors are fueled without the use of Plutonium or enriched Uranium fuel, does their spent fuel pose the same danger as light water reactors?

Title: Re: Do heavy water reactors, like "CANDU", produce lots of Ce-137 and Sr-90?
Post by: Bored chemist on 20/03/2011 09:37:28

When a uranium atom is hit by a neutron it splits into two bits. It cannot tell if it is a light water reactor, a heavy water one , or anything else. So the yield of fission products will be very similar in every case.

Title: Re: Do heavy water reactors, like "CANDU", produce lots of Ce-137 and Sr-90?
Post by: sanpaku on 20/03/2011 17:11:09

I see. That's clear enough. I guess I was wondering that since the original fuel rods don't contain enriched Uranium or Plutonium, they would pose an equal risk for storage as recent unfortunate history discloses?