Advanced Fuel Cycles? Paul Murray Paul.Murray@areva.com Atlanta November 2012
Anything is Possible. Is it Pratical?
Used Nuclear Fuel US reactors currently discharge > 2,000 tunf/y with a total inventory of >65,000 tunf stored at reactor sites around the country. WA 590 MT ND NH 480 VT 610 ME 540 CA 2850 OR 360 NV ID 150 UT <1 WY CO 30 SD NE 790 KS 610 MN 1137 IA 480 MO 670 WI 1310 MI 2540 OH 1110 IL 8360IN <1 KY WV PA 5790 VA 2400 NY 3350 MA 650 CT 1940 NJ 2420 DE MD 1230 RI <1 AZ 1890 NM OK AK 1240 TN 1490 NC 3427 SC 3930 0 MT SNF <1-1000 MT SNF 101-1000 MT SNF >1000 NT SNF TX 1950 LA 1170 MS 790 AL 2990 GA 2450 FL 2880
Number of Fuel Assemblies
Burn-up of US Assemblies Taken from paper:-fuel cycle potential waste disposition FCR&D-USED 2010-000031
Used Nuclear Fuel Where do we go from here? LWR? Important to keep options open
Drivers Influencing Recycling in US 40 CFR 190 Regulates Iodine and Kr. Prepared at time when US would thought to have 1,000 reactors and would be recycling over 100,000 tunf per year. Covers the entire uranium fuel cycle. Regulates I and Kr Assume capture technology would be relatively inexpensive to deploy. Repository Driven. Final repository will determine the optimum requirements for MA separations or Gen IV reactors? Future US Energy Policy Self protecting nature of UNF.
Integrated UNF Management Site Dry Storage Pad / RD&D Platform AREVA Federal Services:-Atlanta Nov 2012 Phased Approach leaves options open
AREVA Federal Services:-Atlanta Nov 2012 Centralized Storage
Integrated UNF Management Site Dry Storage, UNF Unloading Facility, Storage Pool Hot Cell La Hague Hot Cell copyright: AREVA / JEZEQUEL SIDNEY Storage Pool AREVA Federal Services:-Atlanta Nov 2012
Options Continued storage of fuel on the pad. Repackage and direct disposal in a geological repository. Size reduce and direct disposal in a geological repository. Pilot recycling facility. Or a combination of the all the above AREVA Federal Services:-Atlanta Nov 2012
Integrated UNF Management Site- Recycling Facility and RD&D Platform Evolutionary technology benefiting from over 40 years of operating experience AREVA Federal Services:-Atlanta Nov 2012
Initial Pilot Recycling Facility Balanced fuel cycle Recycling capacity matched to product demand Propose an initial Pilot 800 thm/y capacity plant that builds on best available technology to minimize risk COEX TM Separations process so NO separated Pu Manage product using existing nuclear infrastructure while DOE develops Gen IV Reactor (50 plus years for first commercial Unit.) LWR MOX is therefore an interim step for closing the cycle. Pilot Facility could supply fuel to, Limited number of existing LWR s or ~4 x Gen III+ reactors or ~2 x 500 MWe SFR
Work Force (800 MT/y plant) 20000 18000 16000 14000 12000 10000 8000 6000 4000 2000 0 FTE operation support sub contractors FTE operator FTE owner FTE construction sub contractors FTE engineering 2011 2013 2015 2017 2019 2021 2023 2025 2027 2029 2031 Major Impact on Region from Primary and Secondary Jobs
Classic Recycling of UNF 1-through cycle Fresh Fuel 8 LWR Used Fuels 8 MOX Fuel 1 Used Fuel Recycle Recycling once ERU Fuel 1 Waste (FP, MA) Actual value depends on fuel burn-up and enrichment AREVA Federal Services:-Atlanta Nov 2012 LWR Used Fuel 2
Recycling of UOx, RepU, MOX Used Fuel Recycle LWR Used Fuels 8 MOX Fuel 1 ERU Fuel 1 Used ERU and MOX Waste (FP, MA) AREVA Federal Services:-Atlanta Nov 2012
LWR Recycle with MA Burning in Limited Number of Gen IV Used Fuel Recycle LWR Used Fuels 8 MOX Fuel 1 ERU Fuel 1 Used ERU and MOX Waste (FP, MA) Transmutation Fuel MA Limited Number Gen IV MA Used Transmutation Fuel
TRU Burning Capability (kg/tweh) 100 80 60 40 20 0-20 -40 TRU Burning Capability 8.1 2.7 29.3 41.5 40.9 Recycled TRU -0.2-8.3 5.4 High Am content TRU 80.8 9.2-23.0 3.3 Early Burner ARR Future Prototype ARR Commercial Future ARR Burner Burner with Am with Am Blanket Blanket Cm Am Np Pu
Incorporating Advanced Separations
Incorporation of Advanced Technology in Pilot Facility Advanced Separations and Transmutation Fuel Production are an addition to the Pilot Facility and not a replacement.
Conclusions US is unique due to the large stockpile of UNF we have. US has specific regulations that will influence the fuel cycle. Nuclear industry takes a long time to develop and deploy technology. We have many options to choose from. Phased approach to recycling is proposed, Pilot Plant Do not commit the country 100% to anyone technology. Can be adapted and upgraded with new technology. Must develop a simple business case for any future fuel cycle. Fuel cycles will overlap. Final geological repository will drive fuel cycle deployment.