Feasibility Studies on Pyro-SFR Closed Fuel Cycle and Direct Disposal of Spent Nuclear Fuel in Line with the Latest National Policy and Strategy of Korea

Abstract

With a view to providing supportive information for the decision-making on the direction of the future nuclear energy systems in Korea (i.e., direct disposal or recycling of spent nuclear fuel) to be made around 2020, quantitative studies on the spent nuclear fuel (SNF) including transuranic elements (TRUs) and a series of economic analyses were conducted. At first, the total isotopic inventory of TRUs in the SNF to be generated from all thirty-six units of nuclear power plants in operation or under planning is estimated based on the Korean government's official plan for nuclear power development. Secondly, the optimized deployment strategies are proposed considering the minimum number of sodium cooled-fast reactors (SFRs) needed to transmute all TRUs. Finally, direct disposal and Pyro-SFR closed nuclear energy systems were compared using equilibrium economic model and considering reduction of TRUs and electricity generation as benefits. Probabilistic economic analysis shows that the assumed total generation cost for direct disposal and Pyro-SFR closed nuclear energy systems resides within the range of 13.60∼33.94 mills/kWh and 11.40∼25.91 mills/kWh, respectively. Dominant cost elements and the range of SFR overnight cost which guarantees the economic feasibility of the Pyro-SFR closed nuclear energy system over the direct disposal option were also identified through sensitivity analysis and break-even cost estimation.

Dissolution Behavior of Simulated Spent Nuclear Fuel in LiCl-KCl-UCl3 Molten Salt

“…SNFs can be regarded as recyclable resources because they are composed of various valuable elements formed by nuclear fission reactions [3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10]. For instance, although TRUs are the most dangerous nuclides owing to their exceptionally long-lived and strong radioactivity (e.g., half-life of 239 Pu � 24,110 y), they can be utilized as fuels in various nuclear reactors, including Generation IV (Gen IV) reactors such as sodium-cooled fast reactors (SFRs), high temperature reactors (HTRs), and gas-cooled fast reactors (GCFRs) [4][5][6][7][8][9]. Coupling of back-end fuel cycle of the commercial light water reactors (LWRs) to the fuel cycle of the Gen IV reactors is an attractive option for the management of the LWR SNFs.…”

“…Coupling of back-end fuel cycle of the commercial light water reactors (LWRs) to the fuel cycle of the Gen IV reactors is an attractive option for the management of the LWR SNFs. TRUs generated from the LWRs can be transmuted into stable nuclides in the Gen IV reactors to minimize the amount of the high-level radioactive wastes, which is beneficial on the long-term underground disposal [4][5][6][7][8][9]. Integrated fuel cycles of LWR-SFR and LWR-HTR-GCFR are promising candidates [4][5][6][7].…”

“…TRUs generated from the LWRs can be transmuted into stable nuclides in the Gen IV reactors to minimize the amount of the high-level radioactive wastes, which is beneficial on the long-term underground disposal [4][5][6][7][8][9]. Integrated fuel cycles of LWR-SFR and LWR-HTR-GCFR are promising candidates [4][5][6][7]. In addition, SNFs contain valuable rare earth elements (REs) and noble metal elements (NMs).…”