RE: Russia: Iran May Seek More Reactors

["Boston, Robert D" <bostonrd@id.doe.gov>]

The RBMK is designed to be refueled at power.  Since the production of
Pu-239 is dependent on the time spent in the core (or total fluence) a
reactor that does not have to be shut down to remove the Pu bearing spent
fuel has its advantages in a nuclear weapons program.

If you leave the fuel in longer than optimum you begin to produce Pu-240 and
241.

Bob Boston
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> At 12:03 PM 1/17/00 -0600, you wrote:
> >I suppose because the RMBK can be easily
> >used to produce weapons grade plutonium 
> 
> In what way is the RMBK specially suited for this purpose? I thought that
> any source of thermal neutrons could be used to make Pu-239.
> 
> mike
> Mike McNaughton
> email: mcnaught@LANL.gov or mcnaughton@LANL.gov
> phone: (505)667-6130
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