Patent Number: 
Section: claims

1. A method for transmuting spent fuel from a nuclear reactor, said method comprising the steps of: separating the spent fuel into components including a first component comprising at least one fissile isotope and a second component comprising at least one nonfissile, transuranic isotope;  disposing said separated first and second components in a reactor;  initiating a critical, self-sustaining fission reaction in said reactor to transmute at least a portion of said first component and produce a reacted first component and a reacted second component;  separating said reacted first component into fractions including a transuranic fraction comprising at least one nonfissile, transuranic isotope;  reintroducing said transuranic fraction into said reactor for further transmutation;  positioning said reacted second component at a distance from a spallation target; and  transmuting said reacted second component with neutrons from said spallation target. 2. A method as recited in  claim 1  wherein said first component comprises Plutonium239. claim 1 3. A method as recited in  claim 2  further comprising the step of forming said first component in substantially spherical kernels having a diameter between approximately 270 xcexcm and 330 xcexcm to minimize neutron capture by said Plutonium239 in the energy region between approximately 0.2 eV and approximately 1 eV. claim 2 4. A method as recited in  claim 3  further comprising the step of coating said kernels with a ceramic coating. claim 3 5. A method as recited in  claim 4  further comprising the steps of: claim 4 providing a graphite block formed with at least one hole;  disposing said coated kernels in said hole; and  disposing said block and said coated kernels in said reactor. 6. A method as recited in  claim 4  further comprising the steps of: claim 4 disposing a graphite central reflector in said reactor;  providing a plurality of graphite blocks with each block formed with at least one hole;  disposing said coated kernels in at least one said hole of each said block; and  positioning said blocks in said reactor in a substantially annular arrangement to surround said graphite central reflector. 7. A method as recited in  claim 1  wherein said second component comprises a non-fissile isotope of a transuranic element to provide a stable, negative temperature coefficient of reactivity for safe control of the nuclear reaction, said element selected from the group consisting of Plutonium, Americium, Curium and Neptunium. claim 1 8. A method as recited in  claim 2  further comprising the steps of: claim 2 providing an amount of said second component suitable to prepare an undiluted kernel of said second component having a diameter of approximately 1.50 xcexcm; and  diluting said amount of said second component to prepare a substantially spherical kernel having a diameter between approximately 220 xcexcm and 350 xcexcm. 9. A method as recited in  claim 2  further comprising the step of circulating Helium through said reactor to regulate the temperature inside said reactor. claim 2 10. A method as recited in  claim 1  wherein said step of transmuting said reacted second component with neutrons from said spallation target comprises the steps of: claim 1 using a particle accelerator to generate a beam of protons; and  directing said beam of protons to strike said spallation target with said protons and generate fast neutrons.