Unesco eolss sample chapters radiochemistry and nuclear chemistry vol. Nuclear fuel cycle science and engineering describes both the key features of the complete nuclear fuel cycle and the wealth of recent research in this important field. The last two, weapons and waste, are directly tied to the type of nuclear fuel cycle figure 4 in the main nuclear article by raj et al. The nuclear fuel cycle includes an erray of industrial operations, from uranium mining to the disposal of radioactive waste. The fuel cycle is suitably divided into a front end and a back end part, where the nuclear power station is the dividing line. It consists of steps in the front end, which are the preparation of the fuel, steps in the service period in which the fuel is used during reactor operation, and steps in the back end, which are necessary to safely manage, contain, and either reprocess or dispose of. The accident in japan strongly argues for the united states to have a national spent fuel policyrather than the adhoc policies that currently exist.
The range and depth of subject areas can be adjusted to accommodate the interest and background of the participants. The process of extracting uranium and using it to generate electricity is called. It is very efficient and accurate in answering questions such as. The present edition of the safety of the nuclear fuel cycle has been prepared by the working group on operating experience wgoe subgroup on fuel cycle safety fcs under the auspices of the oecd nuclear energy agency nea committee on the safety of nuclear installations csni. Ukrainian rada committee chairman on ukrainian nuclear fuel cycle efforts on 10 february 2001 zerkalo nedeli published an article by the supreme rada fuel and energy complex, nuclear policy and safety committee chairman, aleksandr gudyma, outlining his views on ukraines need to develop a domestic nuclear fuel cycle. Introduction to nuclear fuel cycle and advanced nuclear fuels. In the united states many utility spent fuel storage pools are fulla consequence of a failed repository program and the lack of a national spent nuclear fuel policy. Generally the neutrons are divided into many energy groups and the boltzmann transport equation needs to be solved. The most familiar fuels are wood, coal, natural gas and oil. Copyright 2011 massachusetts institute of technology.
Part one provides an introduction to the nuclear fuel cycle. From the uranium mine to waste disposal 7 the nuclear fuel cycle 2 contents 3 introduction fuel is a material that can be burnt to pro vide heat. Nuclear fuel cycle has been carried out because of the continuing importance of nuclear power as a lowcarbon option that could be deployed at a scale that is material for mitigating climate change risk, namely, global deployment at the terawatt scale by midcentury. Uranium is a naturallyoccurring element that can be mined relatively easily. Used fuel also needs to be taken care of for reuse and disposal. The nuclear fuel cycle comprises the handling of all fissile and fertile material necessary for nuclear power production and of the radioactive products formed in this process fig. The nuclear fuel cycle simulation system nfcss is a scenario based computer simulation tool that can model various nuclear fuel cycle options in various types of nuclear reactors. The future of the nuclear fuel cycle mit energy initiative. The safety of the nuclear fuel cycle third edition. Heat is created when nuclear fuel undergoes nuclear fission most nuclear fuels contain heavy fissile actinide elements that are capable of undergoing and sustaining nuclear fission.
Nuclear fuel cycle an overview sciencedirect topics. The nuclear fuel cycle has been extensively revised since its previous edition published in 1999 and it includes a whole new chapter on nuclear safeguards. Nuclear waste management and the nuclear fuel cycle. It is mined in a number of countries and must be processed before it can be used as fuel for a nuclear. Mit nuclear fuel cycle study advisory committee members iv. The nuclear fuel cycle starts with the mining of uranium and ends with the disposal of nuclear waste. The steps before electricity production mining and milling, conversion, enrichment, and fuel fabrication are known as the front end of the cycle.
However, there are three major negative environmental impacts of nuclear power. Spent nuclear fuel snf fuel that can not be recycled used nuclear fuel fuel that can be recycled. Executive summary pdf full report pdf the implications on the world energy system, beyond shortterm price increases from greater use of oil and liquefied natural gas, are yet unknown and go beyond nuclear energy. Choppin encyclopedia of life support systems eolss the management of nuclear waste from power generation is described in terms the three. Nuclear fuel cycle and proliferation 257 overview there is a close relationship between the technology and infrastructure necessary for a nation to produce nuclear energy for peaceful purposes and those necessary to produce nuclear weapons. Nuclear fuel cycle the nuclear fuel cycle is a process used to describe how natural uranium is used to produce nuclear energy. The future of the nuclear fuel cycle overview, conclusions, and recommendations 1 chapter 2.
From the uranium mine to waste disposal 7 the nuclear fuel cycle from the uranium mine to waste disposal 7 the nuclear fuel cycle. The nuclear fuel cycle is the series of industrial processes which involve the production of electricity from uranium in nuclear power reactors. The nuclear fuel cycle is an industrial process involving various steps to produce electricity from uranium in nuclear power reactors. Transport of nuclear fuel cycle materials in europe is a heavily regulated, safe and routine business performed by highly specialised companies with dedicated materials and specially trained crews and personnel, according to philippe pradel, from french nuclear fuel cycle company cogema, which specialises in the transport of nuclear materials.
International nuclear fuel cycle conference global 20 nuclear energy at a crossroads salt lake city, utah, usa 29 september 3 october 20 volume 1 of 2. Nuclear fuel cycle article about nuclear fuel cycle by. Nuclear fuel cycle international atomic energy agency. Security implications of the nuclear fuel cycle october 2014 in 202014, the james martin center for nonproliferation studies cns at the monterey institute of international studies miis convened a group of distinguished american and japanese experts on nonproliferation to examine the security implications of the nuclear fuel cycle. A technical background is desirable but not a prerequisite for this course. Nuclear power plants use a certain type of uraniumu235as fuel because its. This is the first of nine modules available in this selfstudy course.
Thorium th fuel cycles have been proposed also, but have not been commercially implemented. Nuclear fuel is material used in nuclear power stations to produce heat to power turbines. The process of extracting uranium and using it to generate electricity is called the nuclear fuel cycle. Nuclear fuel cycle science and engineering 1st edition. The nuclear fuel cycle, also called nuclear fuel chain, is the progression of nuclear fuel through a series of differing stages. The nuclear fuel cycle refers to all activities that. This brochure describes the nuclear fuel cycle, which is an industrial process involving various activities to produce electricity from uranium in nuclear power reactors. Chapter 4 fuel cycles 29 the description of a possible global growth scenario for nuclear power with or so gwe deployed worldwide must begin with some specification of the nuclear fuel cycles that will be in operation.
Nuclear fission is the dominant nuclear energy generation method and both open fuel cycle and closed fuel cycle can be utilized depending on whether the spent fuel is recycled or not. Enrichment fuel fabrication power plant conversion reprocessing high level waste storage spent fuel storage electricity nuclear fuel cycle milling natural mining springfields was the first plant in the world to make nuclear fuel for commercial power stations and has produced several million. Interim storage of spent nuclear fuel 43 chapter 5. Thorium fuel cycle potential benefits and challenges. Epas environmental radiation protection standards for into fuel pellets and placed into rods. The nuclear fuel cycle updated august 2010 z the nuclear fuel cycle is the series of industrial processes which involve the production of electricity from uranium in nuclear power reactors. Loading the reactor core in the daya bay reactor china. Ii nuclear waste management and the nuclear fuel cycle patricia. Topics include the available nuclear fuel resources uranium and thorium, extraction of the metals from the ore, fabrication of nuclear fuel, use of the fuel for.
In the united states, uranium is processed in different chemical and physical forms to create nuclear fuel. The purpose of this module is to provide a basic overview of the nuclear fuel cycle. The nea data bank provides nuclear data and computer program services for participating countries. The cycle starts with the mining of uranium and ends with the disposal of nuclear waste.
From a technical perspective, there will be the lessons learned such as. Strategy for the management and disposal of used nuclear fuel and high level radioactive waste, u. While the current participation in the nuclear fuel cycle is limited to uranium production, it is also generally accepted that exploring the rest of the nuclear fuel cycle maybe of significant benefit to namibia. Usnrc technical training center 310 rev 4 fuel cycle processes directed selfstudy course 14. A critical factor for the future of an expanded nuclear power industry is the choice of the fuel cyclewhat type of fuel is used, what types of reactors burn the fuel, and the method of. Thorium fuel cycle is an attractive way to produce long term nuclear energy with low radiotoxicity waste. The raw material for todays nuclear fuel is uranium. Its purpose is to provide the iaea, its member states and public users with current, consistent, and readily accessible information on existing, closed and planned nuclear fuel cycle facilities throughout the world.
Uranium, the fuel used by nuclear power plants to produce electricity, is a naturally occurring element in the earths crust. International nuclear fuel cycle conference global 20. Oncethrough cycle nuclear fuel cycle what is the nuclear fuel cycle. Stages of the nuclear fuel cycle the nuclear fuel cycle represents the progression of nuclear fuel from creation to disposal. A new approach to the nuclear fuel cycle nuclear threat initiative. The nuclear fuel cycle information system nfcis is an international directory of civilian nuclear fuel cycle facilities. There is no functioning international market for disposal. The book covers all aspects of the nuclear fuel cyclefrom cradle to grave. In addition, the transition to thorium could be done through the incineration of weapons grade plutonium wpu or civilian plutonium. The three most relevant fissile isotopes are uranium233, uranium235 and plutonium239. The nuclear fuel cycle consists of frontend steps that prepare uranium for use in nuclear reactors and backend steps to safely manage, prepare, and dispose of usedor spentbut still highly radioactive spent nuclear fuel uranium is the most widely used fuel by nuclear power plants for nuclear fission.
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