Uranium-236 in Light Water Reactor Spent Fuel Recycled to an Enriching Plant

The introduction of ²³⁶U to an enriching plant by recycling spent fuel uranium results in enriched products containing ²³⁶U, a parasitic neutron absorber in reactor fuel. Convenient approximate methodology determines ²³⁵U, ²³⁶U, and total uranium flowsheets with associated separative work requirements in enriching plant operations for use by investigators of the light water reactor fuel cycle not having recourse to specialized multicomponent cascade technology. Application of the methodology has been made to compensation of an enriching plant product for ²³⁶U content and to the value at an enriching plant of spent fuel uranium. The approximate methodology was also confirmed with more exact calculations and with some experience with ²³⁶U in an enriching plant.