Fuel cycle modelling of open cycle thorium-fuelled nuclear energy systems

Abstract

a b s t r a c tIn this study, we have sought to determine the advantages, disadvantages, and viability of open cycle thorium-uranium-fuelled (Th-U-fuelled) nuclear energy systems. This has been done by assessing three such systems, each of which requires uranium enriched to $20% 235 U, in comparison to a reference uranium-fuelled (U-fuelled) system over various performance indicators, spanning material flows, waste composition, economics, and proliferation resistance. The values of these indicators were determined using the UK National Nuclear Laboratory's fuel cycle modelling code ORION. This code required the results of lattice-physics calculations to model the neutronics of each nuclear energy system, and these were obtained using various nuclear reactor physics codes and burn-up routines. In summary, all three Th-U-fuelled nuclear energy systems required more separative work capacity than the equivalent benchmark U-fuelled system, with larger levelised fuel cycle costs and larger levelised cost of electricity. Although a reduction of $6% in the required uranium ore per kWh was seen for one of the Th-U-fuelled systems compared to the reference U-fuelled system, the other two Th-U-fuelled systems required more uranium ore per kWh than the reference. Negligible advantages and disadvantages were observed for the amount and the properties of the spent nuclear fuel (SNF) generated by the systems considered. Two of the Th-U-fuelled systems showed some benefit in terms of proliferation resistance of the SNF generated.Overall, it appears that there is little merit in incorporating thorium into nuclear energy systems operating with open nuclear fuel cycles.

Weapons Grade Plutonium utilization with fertile materials in a Gas Turbine-Modular Helium Reactor

“…Also S ßahin and Erol (2012), S ßahin et al (2012) and Talamo and Gudowski (2005) determination of the reliability, accuracy and the capacity of these codes also became an area study. For the fuel cycles, Ashley et al (2014) studied thorium-uranium fuel cycle modeling in different reactors using ORION. Plukiene and Ridikas (2003) studied different geometry homogeneities on a GT-MHR using MCNP and Monteburns codes.…”

Life-cycle impacts from novel thorium–uranium-fuelled nuclear energy systems

“…A recent review paper [10] has highlighted a number of technology families that could prospectively use open Th-U-based fuel cycles, including: (1) existing light water reactors (LWRs), (2) novel heavy-water-moderated, light-water-cooled reactors, and (3) novel high-temperature gas-cooled reactors. Fuel cycle modelling of three nuclear energy technologies operating with open Th-U-based fuel cycles has recently been performed [11]. The reactor technologies considered in Ref.…”

“…The most recent estimates of thorium reserves range from 6:5 Â 10 6 to 7:4 Â 10 6 tonnes (ignoring resource categories and cost classes) [7], although from a geological standpoint thorium is expected to be 3-4 times more abundant than uranium in the continental crust [8]. [11]. N.B.…”

Challenges to deployment of twenty-first century nuclear reactor systems

“…benefits associated with the technology, economics, safety and security, environmental performance and sustainability. The thorium cycle is often cited as such an option but the benefits are often overstated and the challenges underestimated [36].…”