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Posted by emailtim (A) on June 25, 2025 at 08:31:48

In Reply to: RE: What can you make with 900 pounds of 60% ? posted by Kirk57 on June 25, 2025 at 08:21:02

In a typical comparison of Low Enriched Uranium (LEU) and Highly Enriched Uranium (HEU) used in applications like Kilopower reactors, LEU systems result in a
mass increase compared to HEU systems, not a reduction.

This increase in mass for LEU systems is significant, estimated to be around 700 to 800 kg. This is because LEU, having a lower concentration of the fissile U-235 isotope, requires a greater total mass to achieve the same criticality and power output as a smaller amount of HEU. For example, in the Kilopower reactor concept, eight times more LEU than HEU is needed to make the reactor critical.

The higher mass of LEU systems can have important implications, especially for applications where minimizing mass is crucial, such as space missions. For example, using LEU instead of HEU for space missions could necessitate the use of a larger launch vehicle, potentially impacting mission science, increasing mission time, or even preventing the missions altogether.

In summary, when comparing LEU and HEU for applications like the Kilopower reactor, LEU systems are heavier due to the lower concentration of the fissile U-235 isotope, requiring a larger total mass to achieve the same criticality and power output as HEU.
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