10-07-2021-1711 - Closed Fuel Cycle

Closed Fuel Cycle

Lead-cooled fast reactor

C.F. Smith, L. Cinotti, in Handbook of Generation IV Nuclear Reactors, 2016

6.4.2 Fuel cycle for the lead-cooled fast reactor

The LFR is compatible with a closed fuel cycle or an open fuel cycle. Fast reactors have been conceived for either fuel cycle scenario, and LFRs can be plutonium (Pu) breeders, Pu burners, or reactors with equilibrium fuel composition and long core life.

Fusion–fission hybrids

Evgeny P. Velikhov, in Molten Salt Reactors and Thorium Energy, 2017

16.5 Nuclear energy system

A fusion neutron source power of 1 GWt annually could breed about 3000 kg of new fissile isotope. I.V. Kurchatov made the same assessment on new fuel accumulation in the blanket of a thermonuclear reactor long ago. Under this assessment, one thermonuclear reactor is able to provide fuel to more than 15 thermal reactors. Thus, only about 7% of the power system needs to be fusion power. Replacement of fast reactors by fusion reactors for fissile fuel production has a number of advantages.
Generation IV reactor designs, operation and fuel cycle


N. Cerullo, G. Lomonaco, in Nuclear Fuel Cycle Science and Engineering, 2012

The pyroprocess disposes of waste in two main forms: a glass-bonded mineral (ceramic) and a zirconium-stainless steel alloy. It can recycle metallic fuel from fast reactors. By reducing actinide oxides to metals, it can process existing LWR fuel to recover TRUs for feed to fast reactors. There is a need to research equipment for the reduction of actinide oxides in LWR fuel to metal. The process has been demonstrated on a laboratory scale but needs to be proved on an industrial scale. There is also the need to develop recovery processes for TRUs. Pyroprocessing has been developed to an industrial scale for U recovery, but recovery of Pu and MAs such as Np, Am and Cm has only been demonstrated on a laboratory scale. Additional research in these areas will increase fission product loading in the high-level waste and thus lower total waste volumes.

Related terms:

Nuclear EnergyActinidePlutoniumFast ReactorsLight Water ReactorsSpent FuelsUraniumFuel Cycle

https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/engineering/closed-fuel-cycle


https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GOVPUB-C13-a64a50f25606b8ae2db871a896264bdc/pdf/GOVPUB-C13-a64a50f25606b8ae2db871a896264bdc.pdf

https://www.eolss.net/sample-chapters/c08/E3-06-01-05.pdf

https://www2.lbl.gov/abc/wallchart/chapters/14/1.html