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ABSTRACT
Thanks to plutonium multi-recycling, generation 4 fast neutron reactors can now use natural uranium 100 times more profitably than current light water reactors. Minor actinide transmutation is possible in these reactors and can optimize nuclear waste management, mainly by reducing the area of geological disposal. However, it raises difficult problems, in particular in the complexification of the cycle facilities and the protection of the workers handling these materials. The balance between the overall advantages and disadvantages has to be carefully weighed. Scenario studies enable us to analyze the different options for the nuclear cycle changes made possible with these systems. This article presents in detail the results of these studies.
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Read the articleAUTHORS
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Jean-Michel DELBECQ: Former Director of the Future Nuclear Systems Program at EDF Research and Development
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Bertrand CARLIER: Engineer, AREVA, AREVA NP, Paris La Défense, France
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Christine CHABERT-KORALEWSKI: Project Manager, Scenarios and Cycle Economics, CEA/Direction de l'Énergie Nucléaire, Cadarache, Saint Paul-lez-Durance, France
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Romain ESCHBACH: Head of Laboratoire d'Études du Cycle (LECy), CEA/Direction de l'Énergie Nucléaire, Cadarache, Saint Paul-lez-Durance, France
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Claude GARZENNE: Senior Cycle Physics Expert, EDF Research and Development, Clamart, France
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Frédéric LAUGIER: Engineer, EDF Direction Production Ingénierie/Division Combustible Nucléaire, Cap Ampère, Saint-Denis, France
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Alain ZAETTA: Head of Reactor Design Department CEA/Direction de l'Énergie Nucléaire, Cadarache, Saint Paul-lez-Durance, France
INTRODUCTION
Since the early 2000s, 4th-generation nuclear systems have been the focus of major developments worldwide, both as part of international collaboration through the Generation IV International Forum, and as part of national programs. In addition to the objectives of 3rd generation reactors (safety, competitiveness), these systems also have "sustainability" objectives: making better use of fuel resources and optimizing nuclear waste management. The 4th generation systems currently under study are mostly fast neutron reactors with a closed uranium/plutonium cycle. In France, in particular, the choice has been made to give priority to the development of the sodium-cooled fast reactor, and a technological demonstrator, the 600 MWe ASTRID (Advanced Sodium Technological Reactor for Industrial Demonstration), is being developed under the leadership of the CEA. Commissioning is scheduled for around 2025, along with the associated cycle facilities. The development of these systems to industrial maturity will take time (mid 21st century). The transition from a 3rd-generation to a 4th-generation nuclear power plant will take place over the course of a century, and will involve the cohabitation of two generations of reactors and cycles. The aim of this article is to present the contributions of the 4th generation nuclear fuel cycle, more specifically for the transmutation of minor actinides and the transition between the current light water reactor cycle and the future cycle, using the results of scenario studies for the deployment of fast breeder reactors in France. The contribution of multi-recycling of plutonium alone in 4th generation systems is presented in
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KEYWORDS
plutonium cycle | minor actinides transmutation
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Transmutation of minor actinides in 4th generation systems
Issues
Bibliography
- (1) - Direction de l'énergie nucléaire - La gestion durable des matières radioactives avec les réacteurs de 4e génération. - CEA, déc. 2012. http://www.cea.fr/
- (2) - - Loi n° 91-1381 du...
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