Advanced Fuel Cycles?

Paul Murray

Paul.Murray@areva.comAtlanta November 2012

Anything is Possible. Is it Pratical?

Used Nuclear FuelUS reactors currently discharge > 2,000 tUNF/y with a total inventory of >65,000 tUNF stored at reactor sites around the country.

ME 540

ID 150

NV

AZ 1890

CA 2850

OR 360

WA 590

NC 3427

SC 3930

FL 2880

GA 2450

TN 1490

AL 2990MS 790

IL 8360

WI 1310

LA 1170

AK 1240

IA 480

TX 1950

UT <1

NMOK

KS 610

NE 790

SD

ND

WY

MT

CT 1940

NH 480VT 610

WVVA 2400

NY 3350

PA 5790

KY

OH 1110IN <1

MI 2540

CO 30

MA 650

NJ 2420

MN 1137

MO 670

DE

MD 1230

RI <1

0 MT SNF<1-1000 MT SNF101-1000 MT SNF>1000 NT SNF

Number of Fuel Assemblies

Burn -up of US Assemblies

Taken from paper:-Fuel cycle potential waste dispo sition FCR&D-USED 2010-000031

Used Nuclear FuelWhere do we go from here?

LWRLWR

?

Important to keep options open

Drivers Influencing Recycling in US40 CFR 190 Regulates Iodine and Kr.

� Prepared at time when US would thought to have 1,00 0 reactors and would be recycling over 100,000 tUNF per year.

� Covers the entire uranium fuel cycle. Regulates I a nd Kr

� Assume capture technology would be relatively inexp ensive to deploy.

Repository Driven.� Final repository will determine the optimum require ments 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

Phased Approach – leaves options openAREVA Federal Services:-Atlanta Nov 2012

Centralized Storage

AREVA Federal Services:-Atlanta Nov 2012

Integrated UNF Management Site – Dry Storage, UNF Unloading Facility,

Storage Pool

La Hague Hot Cell copyright: AREVA / JEZEQUEL SIDNEY

Hot Cell

Storage Pool

AREVA Federal Services:-Atlanta Nov 2012

Options

AREVA Federal Services:-Atlanta Nov 2012

Continued storage of fuel on the pad.

Repackage and direct disposal in a geological repos itory.

Size reduce and direct disposal in a geological rep ository.

Pilot recycling facility.

Or a combination of the all the above

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

COEXTM Separations process so “NO” separated Pu

Manage product using existing nuclear infrastructur e while DOE develops Gen IV Reactor (50 plus years for firs t 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)

Major Impact on Region from Primary and Secondary J obs

02000400060008000

100001200014000160001800020000

2011

2013

2015

2017

2019

2021

2023

2025

2027

2029

2031

FTE operation support sub contractors

FTE operator

FTE ownerFTE construction sub contractors

FTE engineering

AREVA Federal Services:-Atlanta Nov 2012

Recyclingonce

1-throughcycle

Classic Recycling of UNF

Fresh Fuel×8

Used FuelRecycle

Used FuelRecycle

MOX Fuel×1

ERU Fuel×1

Waste(FP, MA)

Used Fuel×2

LWRLWR

LWRLWR•Actual value depends on fuel burn-up and enrichment

Used Fuels×8

AREVA Federal Services:-Atlanta Nov 2012

Used Fuels×8

LWRLWRUsed FuelRecycle

Used FuelRecycle

MOX Fuel×1

ERU Fuel×1 Used ERU and MOX

Recycling of UOx, RepU, MOX

Waste(FP, MA)

LWR Recycle with MA Burning in Limited Number of Gen IV

Used Fuels×8

LWRLWRUsed FuelRecycle

Used FuelRecycle

MOX Fuel×1

ERU Fuel×1

Limited Number Gen IV MALimited Number Gen IV MA

Transmutation Fuel MA Used Transmutation Fuel

Used ERU and MOX

Waste(FP, MA)

TRU Burning Capability

41.5 40.9

9.2

29.380.8

-8.3-23.0

2.7 5.4

3.3

8.1

-0.2

-40

-20

0

20

40

60

80

100

Early ARR Future ARR Future ARRwith AmBlanket

TR

U　

Bur

ning

Cap

abili

ty (

kg/T

Weh

)CmAmNpPu

Recycled TRU

High Am content TRU

Early Burner Prototype Burner

Commercial Burner with Am Blanket

Incorporating Advanced Separations

Incorporation of Advanced Technology in Pilot Facility

Advanced Separations and Transmutation Fuel Product ion are an addition to the Pilot Facility and not a replacement.

Conclusions

US is unique due to the large stockpile of UNF we h ave.

US has specific regulations that will influence the fuel cycle.

Nuclear industry takes a long time to develop and d eploy technology.

We have many options to choose from.

Phased approach to recycling is proposed, “Pilot Pl ant”� 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 d eployment.