2026-10-07T03:12:23Z https://www.scidb.cn/oai

10.57760/sciencedb.46052 2026-08-18T14:47:22Z

2026-08-18 Proliferation Resistance of SMART Reactor based on Plutonium Production and Isotopic Quality using MCNP6.1 doi:10.57760/sciencedb.46052 en 1.     AbstractSmall Modular Reactors (SMRs) introduce new challenges for nuclear safeguards due to their compact design and extended fuel utilization. This work evaluates the Proliferation Resistance (PR) of the System-integrated Modular Advanced Reactor (SMART) by tracking the evolution of nuclear material signatures during long-term operation. Neutronic simulations for the reactor core were performed using MCNP6.1 to calculate fuel burn up over a 1400-day operating cycle and to quantify key proliferation-relevant indicators. The SMART core is modeled using six fuel assembly configurations, categorized into two main different types (A & B), based on the inclusion of Gd2O3 as a burnable absorber. Fuel enrichments of 1.6, 1.8, 2.82, and 4.88 wt% were considered.MCNP calculations indicate that approximately 75 kg of 239Pu is generated by the end of the proposed operating cycle. A crucial analysis of the PR was evaluated by investigating the level of attractiveness for the produced Plutonium during the life span of the reactor core, through two main different approaches. According to Pellaud’s approach, 240Pu isotopic fraction crosses the weapon-grade boundary “7%” within the first 200 days and reaches the fuel-grade boundary “18%” in about 800 days. Based on Figures of Merit of Bathke’s approach, the level of Plutonium attractiveness tends to be high (FOM1 > 2) or medium-high (1 < FOM2 < 2). Both approaches, one way or another, showed a significant proliferation risk to be addressed and considered for the produced Plutonium in this type of reactors. Proliferation Resistance; SMART Reactor; Plutonium; MCNP6; Nuclear Material; NM attractiveness and Figures of Merit. Prof. Esmat A Amin Mootaz Ebied Shalaf Prof. Walid I. Zidan PUBLIC https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ dataset Science Data Bank