A new approach to the recycling of spent nuclear fuel in thermal reactors within the REMIX concept

Abstract

A review of simulated nuclear fuel cycles with mixed uranium-plutonium fuel (REMIX) was carried out. The concept of REMIX fuel is one of the options for closing the nuclear fuel cycle (NFC), which makes it possible to recycle uranium and plutonium in VVER-1000/1200 thermal reactors at a 100% core loading. The authors propose a new approach to the recycling of spent nuclear fuel (SNF) in thermal reactors. The approach implies a simplified fabrication of mixed fuel when plutonium is used in high concentration together with enriched natural uranium, while reprocessed uranium is supposed to be enriched and used separately. The share of standard enriched natural uranium fuel in this nuclear fuel cycle is more than 50%, the share of mixed natU+Pu fuel is 25%, the rest is fuel obtained from enriched reprocessed uranium. It is emphasized that the new approach has the maximum economic prospect and makes it possible to organize the fabrication of this fuel and nuclear material cross-cycling at the facilities available in the Russian Federation in the short term. This NFC option eliminates the accumulation of SNF in the form of spent fuel assemblies (SFA). SNF is always reprocessed with the aim of further using the primary reprocessed uranium and plutonium. Non-recyclable in thermal reactors, burnt, reprocessed uranium, the energy potential of which is comparable to natural uranium, as well as secondary plutonium intended for further use in fast reactors, are sent as reprocessing by-products to the storage area.

Capture of aqueous radioiodine species by metallated adsorbents from wastestreams of the nuclear power industry: a review

“…The role of nuclear technology, in reducing carbon emissions, is growing ever more important, with global power output of the industry projected to increase by 55% before 2040 [1]. There is an international drive to increase recycling of used nuclear fuel (UNF), to access the energy potential of the remaining uranium-235 and plutonium-239 [2]. At the same time, the industrial release of chemical species into the environment, particularly radionuclides, is coming under unprecedented scrutiny.…”

Recoveryof actinidesand fission products from spent nuclear fuel via electrolytic reduction: Thematic overview

“…To date, Russia has accumulated about 24 000 tons of SNF. Annually, up to 700 tons of SNF are unloaded from NPP reactors, and about 15% of this volume is processed 63 …”

“…Annually, up to 700 tons of SNF are unloaded from NPP reactors, and about 15% of this volume is processed. 63 In the near future, the implementation of fastneutron power reactors and transition to a twocomponent nuclear system with a single fuel cycle are planned in Russia. Such system should combine the needs both of the existing thermal reactors and of the FRs.…”