4. MOX Fuel
The fuel used in PWRs is uranium enriched to 3–4.5% in 235U. 235U accounts for the majority of fissions in the reactor core. The fuel is packaged in the form of uranium oxide pellets inserted into zirconium alloy cladding tubes. During combustion, plutonium is produced, which can be used to manufacture a new type of fuel: MOX (Mixed Oxide fuel). This fuel can be used in reactors of the current technology with only minor modifications.
4.1 What is MOX?
MOX consists of a mixture of uranium and plutonium oxides. MOX uses uranium depleted in 235U, which allows it to be reused since it has no use in PWRs. The plutonium comes from the reprocessing of spent fuel, which originally consists of uranium enriched in 235U. During PWR operation, plutonium...
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