Advantages of Irradiated DUPIC Fuels from the Perspective of Environmental Impact

• Published in: Nuclear technology 2002-05, Vol.138 (2), p.123-139
• Main Authors: Ko, Won Il, Kim, Ho Dong, Yang, Myung Seung
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applied sciences; COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS; DEUTERIUM; Energy; Energy. Thermal use of fuels; ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS; Environmental impact; ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS; Exact sciences and technology; Fission nuclear power plants; FUEL CYCLE; Fuels; HEAVY METALS; HIGH-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTES; Installations for energy generation and conversion: thermal and electrical energy; IRRADIATION; MIXED OXIDE FUELS; NATURAL URANIUM; Neptunium; NEPTUNIUM 237; NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS; Nuclear fuels; Nuclear power plants; Preparation and processing of nuclear fuels; Pressurized water reactors; PWR TYPE REACTORS; SPENT FUELS; Technetium; TECHNETIUM 99; TOXICITY; Uranium; WASTE MANAGEMENT
• ISSN: 0029-5450; 1943-7471
• DOI: 10.13182/NT02-A3284

This study compares some properties of irradiated D irect U se of Spent P ressurized Water Reactor (PWR) Fuel I n C anada Deuterium Uranium reactor (CANDU) ( DUPIC ) fuels with properties of other fuel cycles. The properties include the radiotoxicity, decay heat, activity, and actinide content embedded in various spent fuels or high-level wastes, which could be measures of the effectiveness of waste management. From radiotoxicity analysis of fuel cycles, the toxicity of the DUPIC option based on 1 GW(electric)·yr is much smaller than those of other fuel cycle options such as the PWR once-through mode, mixed oxide fuel recycling mode, and CANDU once-through mode. The analysis shows that the value is just about half the order of magnitude of other fuel cycles until decayed to a level below the toxicity of initial ore. This means that the DUPIC option could have an indirect benefit on the environmental effects of long-term spent-fuel disposal. From total activity analysis of various fuel cycle options, the activity per metric ton heavy metal of spent fuel is the lowest in natural uranium CANDU fuel, but in the case of activity based on 1 GW(electric)·yr, the DUPIC option has the smallest activity. In the meanwhile, from the activity analysis of 99 Tc and 237 Np, which are important to the long-term transport in geologic media, the DUPIC option was being contained in only about half of those other options. In conclusion, compared to other fuel cycle cases, the irradiated DUPIC fuels would have good properties from the perspective of environmental effects.